This is the season to break out the camping gear and head into the great outdoors to get unplugged, head to the lake, frolic on some sandy beaches, immerse in 24 hours of nonstop fresh air, knock off the shoes for a little bit of barefoot grounding and take some time for some forest bathing or as the Japanese coined it “Shinrin-Yoku.”
This is always a special time for me to connect with the outdoors and hit that “reset button”.
Camping, in a tent, has been a great part of my life for as long as I can remember. Apparently, I slept in a laundry basket my first trip into the great outdoors. I was six months old. As a child there was always a stillness and calm about sleeping under the stars with merely a thin piece of canvas separating me from whatever lurked beyond the four walls of our tent. There was a sense of freedom and gave licence to crawl into a sleeping bag even with dirt on my feet. Everything was exciting and new, with every trail explored, endless beach time and swimming until my lips turned blue. With no care in the world, it was my happy place.
Fast forward to today, all holds true from my childhood except for one thing. Intention. I now have needs and desires that are set with purpose with two objectives in mind. GET UNPLUGGED AND RESET.
Navigating through life as an adult has its challenges and periods of pressure that can feel overwhelming both mentally and physically. For me, setting aside time to RESET has always led me to the outdoors, especially camping.
Camping as an adult, still brings out the “Inner Child” in me with the fascination of exploring new places and having new experiences. It invokes the same sense of calm just with a little more attention to my surroundings. When I was little, my sisters and I had to help set up base camp handing my dad poles and pegs to secure the tent. Then, to earn a spot by the fire for marshmallow roasting we had to scrounge around for firewood and roasting sticks so we could eat marshmallows until our bellies ached. I know, right, life was tough back then.
Now, there’s an excitement in building my lodging and collecting wood for those highly anticipated evening fires, and as for those roasting sticks, well, it’s just for poking around in the fire now.
Early mornings are filled with long walks on the beach, feeling the fist light on my face and the sand between my toes. Here, I feel grounded, connected and energized. It’s done with intention. It’s a ritual.
Breakfasts are slow and relaxed, cooked and prepared outdoors. Somehow food, to me, always tastes better outdoors in the summer. After breakfast, with the dishes clean-up and lunches packed, the adventure begins by exploring trails and all of what the surroundings have to offer.
This is where the “Shinrin-Yoku” practises begin, by taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest. It’s invigorating and calming all at the same time. My favorite is a pine forest with a soft spongy ground that makes you feel like you are walking on a thick bouncy carpet and the smells are, aromatic, crisp and clean. Like the air fresheners you pay for at the store, but it’s FREE!
Since I am a water baby at heart, and have an affinity towards pools, oceans and lakes, there is never a day where I don’t find myself around water where I can swim, relax, or frolic around and be silly. This is where the uninhibited kid in me finds the most peace and happiness.
After a sun-soaked afternoon at the beach its back to the campground for a hardy meal and to set up the firepit. And, as I find the morning light to feel charged and energized for the day, the ritual of watching a sunset has become a non-negotiable, to wind-down and quiet my nervous system preparing me for a deep restorative sleep. As the stars come out to play and the fire is lit, the stillness I felt as a child brings on a sense of ease and calm.
It may not always look the same everyday but after a week of intentional rituals to RESET, the body mentally and physically makes all the difference when returning to life’s daily demands.
