11 Compelling Reasons to Hike or Walk in the Outdoors

It's been more than 20 years ago I began hiking (not the same as backpacking but it is part of backpacking). Back then it was a time to escape my worldly concerns and clear my mind to find a new way of seeing life, that is from a different perspective. It was also a great way to meet others with shared interests other than saving the world and leaping tall buildings in a single bound. Today, I've added to that purpose by finding it serves health and other reasons as well.

How important is it to understand life is finite. Hard to believe but humans don't live forever. Some people don't worry about it until they have a major wake up call in their lives and I'm not talking about the one you get in the hotel so you can make it to a big business meeting on time. I've known and heard about a number #healthy individuals who are not even mid forties were enjoying a successful life, young family, house, car, even that proverbial dog. Then one day they're returning home from work and inadvertently take a detour to the hospital with a stroke, seizure, or heart attack (that doesn't even include being hospitalized for #cancer, debilitating symptoms from #diabetes, #highbloodpressure, #highcholesterol, etc.). What do you learn from these experiences?


There are three things in particular
1) You won't live forever;
2) Outward appearing health is no guarantee to long life; and
3) Don't squander any of the moments you have, enjoy each and every moment you live and breathe.

But wait, there is a fourth I'd like to share.. 4) You actually can prolong your life and give your spirit a fighting chance to overcome some of those debilitating health issues others become bedridden with. With these in mind here are a few compelling reasons to start or continue hiking/walking in the outdoors, today:

1. Great #exercise to get you into and keep you in shape. Whether its for a 1/4 mile or 10 miles, just get out there and get moving. Work your way up to taller mountains and longer #hikes as you progress;
2. Proven to lower or keep in-check your weight, #A1C, #cholesterol and #emotional demeanor;
3. Provides a launchpad for juicing your innovation, #creativity and conjuring solutions. When you're moving it gets your blood flowing, when you're in the woods add higher #oxygen rich content to your blood flow to your #brain and throughout your body. Brain when oxygen deprived does not operate or process information as well, especially when called upon for problem solving. It is why taking an oxygen rich negative ion inducing hot showers also help you think and come up with new ideas;
4. Is a platform for creating an undaunted courage and confidence. You can't even imagine how many people give up just before the end of their race or before their goals are met because of self talk and irrational fears. I have had heard more than a lifetime of #excuses for various things people have convinced themselves why they couldn't or shouldn't and so they wind up shoulding all over themselves;
5. It removes you from the heavy bombardment of microwaves that crisscross the urban and even suburban areas. Electromagnetic radiation (#EMF) is no joke whether its from cell and radio towers, transmitters, or low voltage cables in homes. It is a reason EMF meters and detectors are popular;
6. #Hiking with a group also provides an opportunity to network and better your social skills. Unlike golf you don't have to sink a tiny ping pong sized ball into a hole no bigger than a canary 150' - 300' away. #Hiking can be done by anyone without the competition but yet the time needed together to forge relationships and networks as does golf outings;
7. Taking a #hike or #walk in the #outdoors is typically free unless there is a #park fee, transportation, or parking fee involved;
8. Is a stress release. Connecting with #nature, #waterfalls, #ponds and #lakes, and even #wildlife brings us to a place we often yearn and often unknowingly until we #experience its presence. It is meditative and puts you into a space where you can ponder life and bigger questions outside the material realm;
9. See and experience #wildlife before its gone. That includes endangered raw open forested spaces where some are more interested in converting to money based interests such as mining, lumbering, or other commercial development. This is a real threat to what is considered sacred space that has been set aside and to be preserved as you can see actually dismantling of the protections in place from the day of #Roosevelt to protect our most treasured spaces in #America;
10. Experience the #grandeur of #nature and the #majesty of the towering #waterfalls, #mountain landscapes and vast #meadows of #wildflowers through vistas so grand you feel humbled in their presence. Sometimes we loose sight of the little things that are so close to us while forgetting how small we are in the scheme of all things on earth but have such a large impact; and
11. A great place to take the pooch (if you are a dog owner). Your dog will love getting out into the #woods. I have never seen animals more happy when they are given the open space to roam freely and reconnect with an essential spirit of all #living beings on this planet.

These are just a few reasons for getting outdoors on a #hike or #walk into your #life. There are certainly more.

#AHikeThroughLife provides #outdoortrips and #excursions bringing you into this outdoor space as well as #cultural immersions such as to China, India, etc. It is part of Powermastery. Our life events cater to adults from differing backgrounds and interests with shared common interests including the deep desire to connect with nature, being in the outdoors, experiencing the wonders that are outside our every day existence, connecting with like-minded individuals, being in better health through our #hiking activities, being better people through understanding others through culture, and being part of a community for good.

www.ahikethroughlife.com