Warm Hearts & Fresh Starts: A Top 10 List To Wrap Up One Year & Lean Into the Next

A lot of people have an extended break or take extra time off while visiting family over the holidays. That week sandwiched between Christmas and New Years might leave you finding yourself reflective with a bit of extra down time during the holiday. If that's the case, here's a Top 10 list ideas to help you wrap up your year. May it help you ring in the new by finding a merry mix of innovation, nature, sustainability, and creativity to get you living in the moment and making some extra holiday memories as you lean into the new year ahead.

1. Tech-Boosted Wildlife Bingo Walk

Hit the trail with apps like Seek by iNaturalist or Merlin Bird ID or Google Lens and then make a game of winter wildlife spotting. Hot cocoa or movie choice for the Bingo winner!!

2. Unplugged Board Game Bash

Declare one night a phone-free zone. Dust off your Scrabble board, grab the Chutes & Ladders or Candyland, deal out the UNO cards, go for a Yahtzee, or find a new found favorite (maybe one that was recently unwrapped during the holidays), or invent your own!

3. Schedule Your Eco-Resolution Reminders

Program recurring “green prompts” into your own or your family's shared digital calendar (whether that's Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple, or more)—for monthly nature walks, tech-free afternoons, or local volunteering.

4. ABC Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Enjoy the fresh air while getting a little exercise, hunting out alphabetical finds as you go. Maybe a snow Angel, Boots, Chimney, Dogs and/or Decorations, Evergreen....

5. Gratitude Graffiti

Cover your fridge, a hallway, or one window in sticky notes with little things that brought you joy this year: holiday memories, summer vacations, fun times with friends, popcorn and movie night, beautiful moonlit nights, roasting marshmallows with family or friends.... OR, turn it digital by creating a photo collage or movie of video clips of these sentiments along with photographic proof of the good memories and grateful moments of the year.

6. Green Garland Challenge
Make a winter garland from foraged pinecones, popcorn, leaves, or scraps, then hang it outside for birds to enjoy. The Audobon Society has some great ideas on just how to make some sweet treats for your backyard on their website.

7. Digital Declutter Dash

Grab your phone, iPad, or computer & set our timer for 15 minutes. Ready, set, go: who can clear the most emails or delete the most blurry holiday photos in 15 minutes. Celebrate by putting on some good music and moving, grooving, and doing a happy dance & getting your moves on!

8. Silent Star-lit Night
Take a moment to be in the moment. Bundle up to take a nighttime walk. Spot constellations, listen for the sounds of silence or the city under the streetlights, reflect and reminisce together or go solo. No need for devices, just take in the awe of the night.

9. Curate Kindness
Use your own brainstorming (and bring in your favorite AI platform if you need to) to generate personalized ideas for small acts of kindness you can sprinkle on friends, families, neighbors, and co-workers. Then put them into action, like a secret agent kindness mission. It's a great gift that keeps giving.

10. Digital Dream Board for 2026
Build a solo or shared vision board on Padlet or Canva that collects inspiring eco-quotes, dream destinations, nature wishes, family-personal-or-sustainability goals for the year ahead.

Whatever you do (from this list or from your own imagination), I hope the roll from 2025 to 2026 fills you with both reflection of the past and a ready spirit for what's ahead. 

Image created at Canva.com.

Unpacked: Summer's Travel Souvenirs

This summer I've been very fortunate. I've been able to see....

• The beach & waves of the Atlantic Ocean
• The small towns and coastal sights of the Eastern Shore of Maryland
• The mountains and quaint towns of New England
• The traffic of New York City and the New Jersey Turnpike via rental car
• The majesty of Canada's Montmorency Falls while hiking about
• The skyline of Old Montreal from the top of the La Grande Roue de Montréal (ferris wheel)
• The view of historic Vieux-Québec City & across-the-river Lévis by ferry, funicular, and foot 
• The quaint homes and busy life of DC's Dupont Circle neighborhood
• The Chicago skyline from the air, flying into Midway airport
• The flat farmlands of the Midwest prairie 

It's been a summer of planes, (metro)trains, and automobiles...not to mention ferries, boats, bikes, funiculars, foot traffic, Ubers, and pool floaties. I've been fortunate to have a teacher "summer off" of a variety of long and short trips, getting the opportunity to see a lot of unique sights and eat some amazing food along the way. I also got to try out my fr'anglais in Canada--which even after 4.5 years of high school and college French, it was not pretty. 

I'm finding in my reflection that my summer travel souvenirs tie in both with the richness of our trip to Spain over spring break and my recent read: Rick Steves' book Travel as a Political Act. The benefits from travel go on and on: it gets you out of your comfort zone, allows for greater understanding of the world, provides opportunities to interact with locals and embrace different cultures, changes your perspective, challenges preconceived ideas, gets you out of your routine, and gives you new insights to yourself while you see all these places out of the ordinary. I especially love that it shows you how many people and how many unique places are out there in this great big world. Feeling small on a big planet every now and then is a very good thing. 

There's still some summer ahead. Likewise, fall, winter, and spring. The beauty of travel is that it isn't season specific, and there's no time limit. Where it's out in nature or a version of (what I call) "urban hiking," you can go near or far, be extravagent or go on the cheap, and experience something new. Go find somewhere new to explore!

Images from https://www.adventureinyou.com/travel-inspiration/best-travel-quotes/ and my own camera compiled at https://www.canva.com/design/DAGuwRFlXdk/spkLrRbLBRagSQIXgO4mNw/view

The ABC Benefits of Travel

We just recently had spring break (a true joy for teachers and students alike). 

During that time, my husband and I went to Spain. Needless to say we had an amazing time, and I keep rolling the experiences over my mind. It was both our first time to Spain & to Europe together. 

It got me thinking that travel is the ultimate learning experience -- outdoor education as we walked miles through the cities we visited, conversations with locals and with travelers learning from each other, awareness of how other countries do things that we take for granted, comparing 'us versus them' and 'new versus old' and noticing that both can be exceptional...and that we are richer for the experience.

All of this during my trip reflection led to these ABC benefits of travel and all of the things I loved about our trip--big, small, important, powerful, significant, and meaningful.

Architecture & art and an astonishment of "how did they do that, so long ago, with less tools and technology to build these amazing structures?"

Bevy of beverages...not to mention bon voyages, backpacks, boarding passes, and bounding into new experiences.

Churches & cathedrals & capturing the visual sensation of old worlds and modern times coming together.

Deepen understanding of others and their diversity.

Exposure to exotic &/or extraordinary experiences, exploring different cultures, and exercising through miles of exploration. 

Food, flavor, fun, flexibility (as things don't always go the way you expect), ....and for us: flamenco!

Gives you a chance to become a global citizen, seeing how interconnected & similar we are despite our differences. 

Hands-on history lessons where you get to be at the heart of where so much has happened and see the impact humans have had on a place over time.

Increases empathy & exposes you to brand new horizons & it impacts your way of thinking and it illuminates new ideas.

Journeys have a way of jump-starting your creative juices as you see things through a different lens.

Keeps you on your toes as you navigate new territory, keenly aware on the kaleidoscope of new sights in front of you.

Learning thru immersion and sometimes even the uncertainty of local languages and getting lost.

Make meaningful memories while meandering, and meeting others along the way.

Novelty, newness, and nature nourish our soul and keeps us energized.

Overcoming small hurdles like getting around and trying to communicate in other languages gives a great opportunity for growth.

Perspectives, people-watching, & opportunities to practice patience.

Quaint little shops & quiet corners are what make new places quintessential gifts along your quest.

Real opportunity to build rapport and relationships with your fellow ramblers, while also reaffirming that rest, relaxation, and reflection are so important in order to emotionally, spiritually, and mentally readjust from the rigors of every day life. 

Stepping out of your own comfort zone and savoring the sights, sounds, sensations, & situations of somewhere brand new to you.

Time takes on new meaning, you are totally “in the moment” when traveling.

Unexpected and unique ways to unplug and step away from the urge to gravitate toward your technology.

Value and validation comes in the voyage, vision, and new-to-you view and vantage point of vacations.

Wanderlust gives you the chance to coddiwample: wander forth freely without a destination.

‘Xcursions can give you ‘xactly what you need if you approach travel with an open mind.

You can feel young at heart as you travel, since you are never to old to learn and experience something new. 

Zeal for life and zen moments abound as travel reignites passion, curiosity, and enthusiasm for the world around you.

From our virtual travel companion, Rick Steves (who was only a Kindle book away): 

“Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate souvenir is a broader perspective.” 

We came home with all of that -- and all of the above -- for sure!

4th of July 2024

Happy Birthday America!

4th of July, our country's birthday, is definitely one of our biggest national holidays in the US. 

Parades, picnics, barbecues, flags, festivities, and fireworks all are part of this national celebration.  

Were there to be a red, white, and blue birthday cake, we'd be placing 248 candles on the cake for the country that was "born" on July 4, 1776.

Every 4th I like to post a little something about the holiday:

• ways to celebrate in an eco-friendly way; 
• ways to add a little environmental green to your red, white, & blue routine;
• ways to honor our country by getting outdoors, etc. 

To check out my thoughts on all those topics and what I've written in the past, you can easily go back into the archives for 4th of July. May they serve as inspiration to tie together patriotism and environmental stewardship.

In thinking about what to write this year, I started thinking about the symbolism of our nation's colors, thinking about how they can tie in to both environmentalism as well as the meaning of the holiday. It led me to become a bit philosophical and even include a little play on words:

♥️ Red

The color word "red" is a homophone for the past tense of the verb "to read." As Americans, we definitely should be well-read! My challenge for you is that during this week of our nation's independence, make time and take time to read. Read it all: history, biographies, environmental stewardship, social justice issues, the news, non-fiction, and more. With it being an election year, being informed, well-read citizens is the best present we can give our country!

🤍 White

The color white can symbolize a lot of ideas: purity, honesty, innocence, cleanliness, equality. It even is the color of those racing, chasing arrows on our recycle symbol. All good food for thought. The white daisy photo above reminds me of the adage "stop and smell the flowers." Which of course is synonymous to "live in the moment." This is something that holidays often tend to help us with because they are rare and precious, and we tend to NOT take them for granted, not in the same way we often do during our "regular days." Smell the flowers this 4th of July. Appreciate your holiday. Treasure the gifts of your nation, your friends, your family. 

💙 Blue

Being both the color of the sky and of water, blue is the perfect symbol for "being outside." Take time this holiday weekend to soak up some sun, get some Vitamin N (Nature), and romp around outside. Ground yourself in nature. Unplug. Counter your tech time by spending some time in the great outdoors. Breathe in the beauty that surrounds in the world outside our walls! 

May this Independence Day be filled with many remarkable moments

and memories in the making!

♥️🤍💙      

Images created at Canva.com.

Simple Acts of Kindness

This felt like a natural follow up to my last post. How can you send kindness into the world--both to people and the environment? Use this Sketchnote created by Dr. Hayley Lewis as a springboard to come up with even more ideas to brighten both your and others' day!

Image from https://www.facebook.com/MindShift.KQED/posts/pfbid035wPaR5AyrLVRwvjneaiG5AT5dWpViPcoyZska4A47JyFPizaDubu1XGUvbACa94cl

Happy Labor Day Weekend

For many of us we are just newly back to school, or maybe starting right after Labor Day. Given that, for many it's our first 3 Day weekend in a while. 3 whole days, 72 hours--what, oh what, to do! 

Here are some ideas, inspired by the WeWork article Eight ways to make the most of your three-day weekend.

Art created at Canva.com using ideas from https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/8-ways-to-maximize-your-three-day-weekend

Nutty About National Parks

Yes, it is back to school season, but just because the books are out and the classes are filled, that doesn't mean we are at the end of outdoor adventures.

Perfect time to plan ahead for local and state parks near you, and maybe even make some longer adventures to nearby National Parks.

Timing is definitely ideal if you have a 4th grader living in your hours, or if you want to share it with a few of your favorite fourth grade classes!

The Every Kid Outdoors Program started in 2015. It grants outdoor passes for free entry to all US National parks, starting September 1 and remains valid through August 31st the following year. The purpose it to stir up excitement and enthusiasm for our public lands. The only way to be a true steward of the Earth is to learn to love it. Through some research, it was found that 4th grade is the optimal time for that stewardship to grow and blossom. Additionally, the program counters the digital draw of devices and the fact that kids younger and younger are getting sucked into the seductiveness of them. Getting them to unplug and get outside exploring has wins on every front.

Some resources affiliated with Every Kids Outdoors:

• Get your pass here. You can also find educator and parent resources there too. Passes cover all entry and day-use fees/charges and will cover up to 4 adults in the car. (Kids under 15 have free entry to public lands.)
• Additional resources can be found at Teacher Goal's article.

Other websites regarding the bounty and benefits of National Parks:

• Recreation Northwest's article by Tod Elsworth: "3 Key Benefits of National Parks" (4-20-2022)

• Monterey Bay Parents' article by Sandi Schwartz: "Ten Reasons to Take Your Family on a National Park Road Trip" (1-29-2022)

• USA Today's article by Lydia Schrandt: "These are the 10 Oldest National Parks in the United States" (5-11-2021)

• The National Park Service website, especially the teacher resources section

Quote image from Canva.com and Every Kid Outdoors logo from https://everykidoutdoors.gov/about.htm, Nautty about National Parks squirrel image created at Adobe Firefly using thus prompt: cute cartoon squirrel with nut in front of sign that says "national park" advertising the importance of going to national parks with kids.

Benefits of Blue & Green Spaces

Summer. This time of the year for teachers, it feels like it is dwindling!

It takes purposeful reminders to realize that yes, the back to school season may be getting busier, but it is still summer.

And maybe it's because we are teachers--who tend to jump both feet first into "busy" and who's job it is to educate others--that we really do need to pay attention to the fact that it IS still summer.

That we need to get outdoors.

That we need to get our kids outdoors.

That we need to refresh, restore, recharge, and rejuvenate--especially in the busy season. Especially in a season that can bring anxiety to kids, adults, and teachers alike as our schedules switch and new expectations and levels of busy-ness sets in. 

We all need our blue (water-related) and green (outdoor) spaces. Kids of all ages! We need to get out, near, around, and in water and nature! And here's some proof:

• Beyond Greenspace's Making the Most of Green Space for People's Health (research from the University of Exeter)

• BBC's Nov. 8, 2022 article by Frankie Adkins and Katherine Latham: The Surprising Benefits of Blue Spaces

• ADDitude's Feb 8, 2023 article  by Karen Barrow: Go Take a Hike! (No, Really, It Helps.)

• The Guardian's Oct. 12, 2022 article by Yasmeen Louis: Time Spent in Blue Spaces Benefits Children in Later Life

• Ideas.TED.com's Aug 11, 2021 article by Seena Mathew: The Fountain of Youth Hasn’t Been Found — But Swimming May Come Close

• Edutopia's Dec. 6, 2022 article by Alissa Alteri Shea: Nature Learning in All Seasons-- here you'll learn some ways to integrate nature into your lessons

Get outside here, even in this busy season. Your mental health will thank you.

Art created at Canva.com

Southern Wildlife

We recently vacationed "down south." Nature is a bit different down there. It's wilder and bigger than this midwest-raised girl experienced, that's for sure. The swampland brings about its own wildlife with palms and Spanish moss and creatures all of its own. Having lived about 6 years in Tampa-area (many years ago), I first learned that there. Exotic and large birds like herons and egrets were common... as were larger turtles and alligators and snakes I wasn't used to. They all felt so prehistoric in comparison to the wildlife I was used to from my childhood.

A lot of bike riding this trip brought about a lot of opportunities to check out nature. My sightings this trip reiterated that wild and wonderful (and slightly still-startling) sense of nature included:

• Blue heron
• Hawk
• Baby gator
• Turtles
• Armadillo
• Sand dollars ("feet-plucked" from the sand while in the ocean)
• Pelicans & other seabirds fishing in the ocean (another thing you don't find in Middle America)

It was a good reminder of how important it is to travel and see new things. Even just a handful of states away, the wildlife is different. The culture is different. The tastes of local food, the customs, and vernacular and more.... Wandering around and getting lost was a great way to soak it all in, and unplug along the way. Opening your eyes and mind to new experiences should always be welcome!

Image created using PicEdu with my own photos.

Labyrinth Locator

I was reading "Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto" by Tricia Hersey, and among the many poignangt lines in the book, this one particularly struck me: 

It reminded me of a chapter in Annabel Streets' book "52 Ways To Walk" where she discusses getting lost...in a maze. Labyrinths to be specific. Actually, mazes and labyrinths are different, in that mazes have multiple paths that branch off, while a labyrinth is a continual path that leads to center. The purpose, while whenturies old, is to provide the purpose of contemplation, rest, and relaxation. A literal "walking to nowhere" and "somewhere" simultaneously.

As with everything these days, you can find a nearby labyrinth online. Go toLabyrinth Locator, and you have a portal for labyrinths worldwide. A simple search tool lets you hone in on where you are and how far you'd like to travel, and it will show you where the nearest one is in your radius.

Makes me want to locate one and transport there, then wander until I get lost.  Until then....I'll just have to go on walkabout and get lost where I am.

Quote image created at Canva.com; screenshot from https://labyrinthlocator.com/home

Chasing Life Podcast Season 6: The Science of How Tech Is Impacting Our Brains

I've mentioned a time or two that I'm a big fan of podcasts. One of my favorites the last few years has been Dr. Sanjay Gupta's "Chasing Life." I love his intelligence, sense of humor, and demeanor, and I think he'd be one of the 5 famous people I'd love to sit down with at a dinner party if I could. I always learn something from every listen with him.

His sixth season of the show started this past February and I'm definitely drawn in. He calls this season "a personal journey" for him, and he has this as his introduction to the season:

"If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking at a phone or a computer screen. These days we spend most of our lives looking at screens – whether it’s for work, school, or fun – but how is it shaping us? On season six of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us on his most personal journey yet, while he dives into the science behind how technology is impacting our brains. As a dad of three teenage girls, he explores how worried we should be about the effect screen time is having on kids’ health. Join us each Tuesday as we bring everyone to the table – from members of the Gupta family to content creators and medical professionals – and look for guidance on how to navigate a world surrounded by screens."

As a Lower School Technology teacher, a parent of teens, a person who has read a lot of books over the years on this subject, and someone who lives a lot of life on her phone...and who is living in a world where ChatGPT and AI are all in the news these days, this season's theme has really struck me as well. I often say I have a love-hate relationship with technology... but the deeper enmeshed we become in this "techified" world, the deeper we all get into ALL of it! Not to mention, more and more, the trickle down gets younger and younger and we are seeing the effects on more and more kids, in more and more ways: digital drama, mental health issues at all time highs, and new social and ethical dilemmas all the time.

I recently saw author Tom Friedman speak, and this image of him spoke to me, especially since I had read his book Thank You For Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations. In it he speaks of the speed of life and technology, globalization and the environment, and how people are resistant to change. This picture (and the slide is a visual in the book too) totally sums up where we are...and where Sanjay Gupta seems to be too with this season.

New episodes of Chasing Life come out every Tuesday. These are the topics Sanjay Gupta has tackled so far in season 6. Obviously, more are to come. In each episode he had several experts, authors, and digital influencers on that he interviews. I particularly liked the idea of "mediatrician" that he mentions in episode 3 when he speaks with Dr. Michael Rich, co-director of the Clinic for Interactive Media Disorders at Boston's Chidlren's Hospital. It all gives fascinating food for thought in this tech age in which we live. Definitely feel like this is a must-listen for all of us--parents, educators, and consumers of digital media.

Season Six, Episode 1: A Personal Journey for Sanjay - Feb. 7th, 2023

Episode 2: How to Raise Kids in the Digital Age - Feb. 14th, 2023

Episode 3: How Much Screen Time is Too Much? - Feb. 21th, 2023

Episode 4: Breaking Up (and Making Up) with Your Phone - Feb. 28th, 2023

Episode 5: Hank Green on the Future of the Internet - Mar. 7th, 2023

Episode 6: The Selfie Effect on Your Brain - Mar. 14th, 2023

Episode 7: Will Banning TikTok Help Kids? - Mar. 21st, 2023


Podcast cover image from https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/chasing-life, Tom Friedman picture taken by me on March 21, 2023 at the Baltimore Speaker Series.

52 Ways to Walk

I happened upon the book 52 Ways to Walk: The Surprising Science of Walking for Wellness and Joy, One Week at a Time by Annabel Streets in the virtual bookshelf of my Libby app. I'm not even 100% sure how, but it most certainly was a "happy accident!" It was the perfect book as I'm newly back to walking after 2 knee surgeries over the last 6 months. Additionally, there are so many tie-ins to both nature and brain & body science.... I feel it's one of those books that everyone needs to read. 

It's probably no surprise that people view walking as boring. You may agree. Given that, these 52 approaches serve as a good way to snazz up walking and jazz up your step, making it more of a habit and bringing you more joy. It doesn't have to be same ole, same ole.

The way the book is laid out, you could read it front to back, skip around, or save a chapter a week to guide your walking with 52 different approaches and ways to be mindfully focused out in nature. It helps you get out of the mindset of "the walking rut." It even inserts a bit of playfulness and levity, and our brains love novelty.

 

Some of my favorite chapters included: 

• Week 2: Improve Your Gait
• Week 3: Walk, Smile, Greet, Repeat
• Week 8: Walk with Vista Vision
• Week 11: Take a City Smell Walk
• Week 13: Take a Walk-Dance or a Dance-Walk
• Week 16: Pick Up Litter as You Walk
• Week 26: Walk in Sunshine
• Week 29: Walk Barefoot
• Week 32: Walk in Water
• Week 44: Seek Out the Sublime
• Week 45: Work as You Walk
• Week 51: Walking as Meditation
• Week 52: Walk Deep and Seek Out Fractals

Some major takeaways....

• As humans whose lifestyle is growingly becoming more sedentary, we don't move enough. Our bodies were meant to move. Half (or more) of our aches and pains come from our crunched computer posture. We need to move and groove so much more.

• The health effects are many with routine walking. Regular walking: 
• lowers your blood pressure, weight, inflammation, and cholesterol;
• engages and alerts all of your senses;
• counters heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression, and anxiety;
• improves your overall mental health and provides stress release
• increases oxygen which helps your organs in addition to your memory, creativity, clarity of thought, concentration, relaxation, and your ability to sleep at night;
• combats fatigue and brings about greater energy; 
• helps move your muscles, joints, and bones and improves your alignment, strengthens your core, and improves your balance and stability;
• increases your long distance and panoramic vision given you aren't singualarily looking at a screen;
• provides you opportunity to get more Vitamin D.

• There are also a bounty of environmental benefits: 
• Walking provides you an opportunity to step away from your car or public transportation, which lowers the overall environmental impact of getting from one place to another.
• As you walk, you can make it you "one green thing" to pick up trash along the way as you go.
• Walking gets you more in touch with your surroundings. When this happens, it helps us care more about our world around us--which makes you more invested in protecting the world around you. This is how environmental stewards are made.

When there's a bounty of science explaining all the benefits of walking, and the price is right (free!), what's not to love about walking. There's literally nothing stopping you, except your own 2 feet! Today may be a great day to get outside, breathe in some fresh air, sharpen your focus, and start feeling the benefits!

Book image from https://www.amazon.com/52-Ways-Walk-Surprising-Wellness-ebook/dp/B096DVH9HF/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=52+ways+to+walk+book&qid=1676821812&sprefix=52+wakys+to%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-1; Quote image created from canva.com using a book quote from -From 52 Ways to Walk by Annabel Streets

Environmental Inspiration from Prince Ea

Prince Ea always speaks to me with his views on being in the moment, embracing life, and maximizing our time to center around priorities. A lot of time, that comes from unplugging and being in nature--something that seems increasingly more difficult for all of us to do as we become habituated in this overly connected, "tech-i-fied" and "tech-i-fried" world. 

I ran across a recent video of his entitled "Quitting Social Media," which discusses all of this and also where he's been lately since he's been out of the social media world. It was excellent, thought provoking, and takes you on a bit of an existential adventure....which is kind of where I've been a bit lately

In my clicking, I landed on this video Prince Ea created around Earth Day 2022: "Dear Parents, Do You Love Your Kids." The premise of it is that if we as parents did love our kids, we'd care more about the planet we are leaving behind. It's a good commentary on stewardship and the importance of working together the for greater good of our Earth. The message is that we should approach the climate change challenge through activism and partnering with each other versus politics and fear. 

It's also timely in that he mentions two quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr, which seems perfect to post this weekend. Additionally, Martin Luther King Day is often seen as a day of service, which ties with the environmental nudge from Prince Ea at the end of the video to check out the Nature Conservancy's "Let's Planet Together."

Image from https://loveexpands.com/quotes/prince-ea-1173402/ and video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVQYgHbtr4I

1000 Hours Outside for 2023

Over winter break, I was in the car a decent amount on travel. Whenever that happens, I find myself soaking up podcasts. I listened to several from Ginny Yurich's "1000 Hours Outside" Podcast. I've written about her quest to get kids (and all of us) outdoors at least 1000 hours a year--which is the approximate amount of time we all spend online in a year. She's a strong proponent with her book and blog for us all to unplug and really get back to the heart of ourselves through nature. 

I've stated before--that's really hard for me in the winter. But, with my goal of more days with some time outside in 2023 than not, I'm hoping to get some of those in the winter too. (It doesn't hurt that I'm writing this outside on an unseasonably warm 60 degree day.)

This post in many ways serves as a natural follow up to "Gretchen Rubin's Go Outside 23 in '23 Challenge."

Ginny Yurich has many things planned for the year ahead to get people inspired to get outdoors and be talking about a life well lived outdoors. Here are just a few, and may they serve you well!

🧩 Her Podcast: Episode 107 is one I really enjoyed, entitled: "1KHO 107: The Greater Culture is on a Sedentary Trajectory | Katy Bowman, Move Your DNA

🧩 Her New Book: Just out at the end of December: 1000 Hours Outside: Activities to Match Screen Time with Green Time

🧩 Her Tracking Pages & Lists: Her 2023 Kick-off pack free downloads will help you track everything and inspire you to get creative with your outdoor adventures. If you are high tech, there's even an app for that for $1.99 at the Apple App Store.

🧩 Her 2023 Book Club: Ginny's plotted out a monthly book club, with details here. She also discusses it on episode 100 of her podcast. Her books:

Green book club list and Book Club photo screenshot from https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/bookclub; Kick-off pack screenshot from https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/blog/2023kickoff; book image of Ginny Yurich's book from https://www.amazon.com/1000-Hours-Outside-Activities-Screen/dp/0744063620/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1672693166&refinements=p_27%3AGinny+Yurich&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Ginny+Yurich

1000 Hours Outside Revisited

I've written about the concept of "1000 hours outside" before, and for the last several summers, I've tracked my time outdoors as well. Winter weather (and not being a major fan of the cold), wounded knees, and work always get in my way of really diving in on the same level that I can in the summer. 

But, perhaps the 2 items below may be able to help me with that!

Ginny Yurich, founder of 1000 Hours Outside's blog and website, has had a bit of a brand explosion lately. It's not a surprise given that the outdoors are the safest place to be given Covid, and that messaging has been strong for over a year and a half. Additionally, stress seems at an all-time high given the pandemic and more. Outdoors is an excellent place to decompress, recalibrate, and find your center in an often upside-down world. The health benefits of nature for mental, spiritual, and physical health are undeniable.

So kudos to Ginny for bringing these two new digital items into the world to help inspire us to get OUT in the world, especially when it's a little chilly out there!

The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Whether you find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or their YouTube Channel, you can soak in the benefits of the outdoors while you are cooking, cleaning, driving, or more in their podcast. Currently in their second season, here is a playlist of what you can find there.

The 1000 Hours Outside App

They have always had paper trackers on their website, but now you can go about tracking your outdoor habits on your favorite device using their app. Available on both the Apple & Google Play App Stores for $2.99, you can do it all digitally. A small price to pay for greater health and wellness!!

Podcast list image from https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=440077847473478&set=a.224886075659324, logo from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAh7PGo3i2OqKlzHP0_ThOA

Happy Thanksgiving 2021

Cheers to you and yours this Thanksgiving season. May your gratitude list be long this year, and may your health be well. 

If you are looking for some ways to help "pay it forward" this Thanksgiving season, this Yahoo news photo gallery "7 Ways to Give Back and Make an Impact on Thanksgiving" has some great ideas of ways to be of service this season.

Additionally, these old GTG archives might serve some Thanksgiving inspiration for food, fun, flavor, and festivities:

• Turkey Day is On the Way (2015)--For some school and home creative ideas

• Thanksgiving 2020--For some turkey dinner facts

• Happy Thanksgiving (2019)--For comic relief

• Have a #DeviceFree Dinner This Thanksgiving (2017)--For unplugging--always relevant!

• Happy Thanksgiving (2015)--For a bit of inspiration

Image created at canva.com.

Hydrotherapy for the Win

I found myself at a hotel overnight about a month ago. More importantly, I found myself in my happy place. 

The pool.

Our backyard above ground pool has been dying a slow death this past year, with promises from my husband that it has seen its the last year. Threats, but sadly not idle ones. Metal over time rusts; and ours is rusting terribly. It currently is sitting completely empty, drained, somewhat a sad little puppy--and I envision the hack saw isn’t too far away. I'm not sure who will mourn its loss more—me or our Portuguese Water Dog.

I think it’s going to be me.

As I was in the pool this weekend, reunited with the zen that comes to me when I’m in the water, I was in the one place I can truly be in the moment. [I’ve written about this before, more than once.] I do a version of Tai Chi in the water, focusing my movements to my breath. Having taken a Tai Chi class before, I know there are distinct movements in the martial art, so I can’t call what I do Tai Chi. Maybe I’ll call it “My Chi.”

In the water, I can move in ways I can’t on dry land. I don’t swim. But my “My Chi” is a version of water aerobics and knee-lift bouncing/running that would never happen in a world with gravity and the knees I currently have. Lately too, as my knees have gotten worse and medical injections don’t seem to have the magic they once did, my “My Chi” surprises me and what I thought my body was capable of. Gone is the pain, all because of the gentle pressure of the water. I can do more. I can do my calisthenics bouncing for hours in the water, when being on my feet and walking on land hurts far more than I'd like.

Recently as part of some school diversity/inclusivity professional development, we did an identity wheel based around our own self identity focused about a dozen identifiers including gender, race, age, spirituality, and more. After reflecting on ourselves, we went through a series of questions analyzing where we felt we were how it related to our teaching. We then congregated by the identifier in the room that answered that for us. The first question: "Which one of these categories do you think about every day?" For me, it was “physical ability/disability.” For too long now, my knees are a constant thought. What I can I do? What can’t I do? How does it feel? How does it limits the things I enjoy like hiking or even walking? It has me feeling my age and mortality all of a sudden, way more than I like.

As I was in this very simple hotel pool, doing my moves, I felt invincible and energized in a way I haven’t felt since the sunny days of summer. 

I didn’t want it to end. 

I talk often about #BlueMind—both here and in my own brain space. Here in this hotel pool, I realized I was also talking about #BlueHealing as well. Hydrotherapy for the win.

Pool picture from my camera, quoted picture created at canva.com.

Ode to Cheat Lake

Earlier this month we had a 3 day weekend. 3 day weekends bring about the magic of that bonus time. More time to sleep, rest, and just “be.”

I found myself on that beautiful 3rd day basking in unseasonable warm 80 degree autumnal weather. Taking in the early sign of fall, soaking in the sun at Cheat Lake Park in West Virginia, I found myself feeling a little nature-fixed, inspired, and poetic:

Changing leaves, tipping the tops of trees, transforming from their summer green.

Healing body in the warmth of the October sun, breathing in the view.

Eager for time to stand still while surrounded by the panoramic beauty.

Aglow, lightened, and a-livened by the sun dancing on the water, slowing my breath.

Touched by the slightest of breezes, enamored by the serenity of the scenery.

Looking around at the vista that surrounds, I am 

Abundantly filled with grace, gratitude, and tranquility. I am

Keenly aware of this moment in time, and how

Each day these leaves will redden, yellow, orange, and fall—shifting deeper into the crisper, cooler, later season of Fall.


For that reason, we must soak it in while we can, sitting in the stillness, taking in the moment.  

Catching it before it moves on.

Pictures from my camera.

Blue Mind to the Rescue

The day I wrote this, I had a really crappy day. One of those body shaking moments where I felt like I was going through my skin, bouncing out of my mind due to a "mood most foul." I needed to escape—and I probably needed to eat.

So I escaped to an area restaurant, one I'd purposely chosen for its water view. Luckily it was a downright gorgeous day. Outdoor seating called my name. I needed to neutralize my stressed "red mind," decompress, take hold of myself, take on some healthy food, and get in touch with my #BlueMind. Grab hold of a little #VitaminN. Breathe and chill.

Water does indeed have the ability to wash away some of what ails you. It slowed my breathing and my heartbeat. It helped me get through the mental and emotional exhaustion of the moment. 

Sometimes a change of perspective and a little time away can do wonders!

Thank you water for rescuing me.

Images from my camera.

Tips for Taking Care of Our Hiking Trails

Back in February I shared my friend Holly's Hiking Manifesto. She's been embarking on the 52 Hike Challenge this past year. She had some stunning realizations on one of her recent hikes--Hike 32 that she's allowing me to share here. May her words inspire you to make good decisions while out hiking to help protect the lands as you move through the end of summer & the autumn. Have your hiking adventures keep you and our planet in good shape!

#Hike32 last week was beautiful but also made me very, very sad. 

The state park I have frequented often over the last 2 years has been one of my favorite places to hike when I just want to do a short hike close to home. I've hiked there regularly, and I know the trails there better than I know my way around my neighborhood!

 

But since I started hiking there, I've seen how the trails have changed--especially with increased traffic during the pandemic while people have flocked to outdoor spaces. Each time I visit, the damage and erosion has gotten exponentially worse. It's not that I want to discourage people from getting outside, but I also don't want to contribute to the abuse that some of these areas suffer from with the overcrowding.

If you are recreating outside, please remember if it has rained recently to stick to paved trails when possible. Also, please. please, please stay on the blazed trails! When you stray from the marked paths, you are contributing to the damage and erosion I mentioned earlier! I hiked the same trail I did last week only a month ago, and there were parts of it this trip that were almost unrecognizable because of obvious heavy traffic and people not staying on the path (after just a month!)

If there are faster hikers that you want to allow to pass you, try to step to the side in an area that isn't too fragile. And just step to the side and STOP - don't keep frolicking through the forest off of the path! And if you are the one doing the passing, please avoid just traipsing through the forest on unmarked paths to do it! Wait for the people in front of you to step aside! It's also totally fine and appropriate to ask nicely if you can pass. We're actually all totally capable of sharing the trails in a respectful and responsible way! 

Anyway, for now I think I'll be seeking some less trafficked trails but I will still be making every effort to take care of every trail I set foot on! 

Happy hiking!

Special thanks to my friend Holly for once again sharing your wit and wisdom and love of hiking and the great outdoors. The picture credit goes to Holly! The title photo created at www.canva.com.