Angela Jamison is a native Montanan and she grew up in beautiful Bozeman. I'm the mother of two girls and write a blog about our life here and taking in the simple pleasures of family and food.
She smelled of sun and daisies with a hint of a mountain trail…
When life gets crazy, when things get hectic, when thoughts swirl in my head, when I feel exhausted. I step outside. I close my eyes and gently lift my face to the sun. I inhale. Slowly, deeply. I let it out. The fresh air settles my brain, slows things down and brings me back to the present. Nature, outdoors, fresh air…the simplest cure.
When my children are fighting over every little thing and I have exhausted every empty threat to get them to stop. When I have pleaded with them to treat each other with kindness. Reminded them they are each others best friends to no avail. A simple walk around the block changes everything. Suddenly rather than arguing they are conversing. No one trying to be right, no one talking over the other. Instead there is listening, encouraging. The only change that shifted was the walk out the door. Nature, outdoors, fresh air…sisters become friends.
When I feel the need to move, yet have no desire to be stuck on a treadmill indoors. When I have no motivation, yet know a good run will improve everything. I throw on running shoes, headphones and simply walk out the door. It only takes the one step and you’ve made the decision to do it. Commitment. As the air fills my lungs and I take in the surroundings all around me, my pace picks up, I find my groove. A groove that is harder to find while running stationary on a piece of equipment. As my breath deepens I inhale the sweet smells of air around me rather than others working out. I end my run feeling grateful for the beauty around me…getting more out of it than calories burned and muscles strengthened. Outside, working out becomes a place to clear your mind. You don’t need a membership, you simply need to walk out the front door.
When I need to get away from it all. A break, a breather, a moment. When a step in the backyard isn’t quite enough to get my head straight. Making my way to the nearest mountain trail. This is when the simple beauty of the outdoors comes full circle. The giant sky above me, the valley below and the trail ahead. Nature completely surrounding you. No distraction. Focusing only on the trees, streams and wildlife around you. Clearing thoughts out of your mind and sorting out the ones that won’t leave. Relishing in the calm the outdoors bring to your soul.
Life will always have chaos. Complication. Noise. We deal with these and try to focus on the moments of calm. Peace. Happiness. The simplest path to these moments are just a step out the door. Whatever the weather. Close your eyes, face up to the sky. Inhale. Exhale. Simplify.