Thoughts on learning to hike in Tennessee: a Practice in Self-Love

Celandine Poppy, Old Stone Fort Archeological Park, TN

In theory, hiking sounds easy, right? 

   I mean, you're just walking around in nature. How hard could it be? Coming from someone who's spent their entire life overweight and wholly unconvinced of nature, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had always longed to be 'outdoorsy', but between the ever-changing weather, the bugs, the wildlife...Hiking has always seemed rather intimidating. The nicely-paved metro park trails of my college town of Cleveland were a great toe dip into outside, but I was largely content to keep to their curated paths.

   Suddenly in late summer of last year, I found myself in a new state, in the middle of nowhere, and surrounded by Tennessee's many state parks. I had just escaped a bad marriage, and with nothing to do, I needed a hobby. I've always enjoyed moving my body, but for months prior to my sudden move, I had been too depressed to cultivate a healthy lifestyle. So...why not start small? I decided that maybe it was time to brave the bugs, and see what this 'Nature' was all about. 

   For my first few hikes, I kept it small. I was walking easy trails, usually about a mile and a half long. Getting moving after not having the energy was hard. I had no endurance, and my muscles ached whenever I dared to attempt walking on a path that wasn't smooth with no height variation. It was nice to be alone with my thoughts, and spending time alone in the fresh air and sun was a great way to gently encourage myself to heal, to regain some confidence in myself. 

   As I slowly began to challenge myself, my hikes got longer, and I got braver in visiting new state parks in the area. What awaited was a cornucopia of treasures: beautiful wildflowers, animals, and breathtaking views made all the huffing up hills and slipping in mud worth it. Pushing myself became less daunting, and I began to look forward to the next hike. I was less afraid of tripping. I began to smile more. 

   The best part? Discovering new plants and mushrooms to take pictures of!
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   I am by no means more than a casual hiker, to this day. However, I've begun to view life as an adventure, and finding new trails to stumble through has made me feel more confident in navigating adventures indoors, too. Learning to trust yourself and push yourself to new heights (sometimes literally) is so rewarding. Dear reader, even if you're not the hiking type I hope you find something that encourages you to be your best self. 

The lake on a rainy day