With the growing digital age, it became so easy to lose myself in the highlight reels of others.
Comparison stripped me from my personal foundation and I had to find it again. I searched for my purpose...
Most hikes in the Pacific Northwest start off in the forest. You get lost: surrounded by large tree trunks and greenery as far as the eye can see. It can be as simple as walking through the trails on the WSU Vancouver campus or as complex as driving to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
While I would never encourage standing directly beneath fast-flowing water, being on the same level as the end of a waterfall brought me back to reality - to realize just how beautiful life naturally is. The rush of water runs so quickly a mist drifts to its viewers. Multomah Falls is a tremendous beauty you can find in the Columbia River Gorge or visit Sunset Falls enclosed by forestry, less than hour drive from campus.
Jumping into melted snow from the mountains might not seem enticing, but taking a dive into freezing water refreshed my perspective. Comparison is the theif of joy; you won't even think of interacting with that criminal when you're busy waiting for the blood to rush throughout your body to warm you after being shocked by cold H20! If you want to take a swim, Colchuck Lake is located in Leavenworth, Washington and is worth the hike.
Okay, maybe a stratovolcano like Mount Saint Helens is a safer bet or plain old mountains too! Whether you commit to summiting a mountain or choose to admire from afar, mountains reminded me that we are small compared to nature's features. Perspective can change a lot: what seemed like big obstacles are small in relation to mountains. You could travel a couple hours to snowboard on Mt. Hood or hike Mount Hamilton on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
As a psychology major, mental health is constantly at the forefront of my mind. Being active and getting outside helped me to maintain a stable, mental health throughout this pandemic. Since socializing with friends wasn't a safe option, getting outside with my household helped me through some of the darkest moments and I want anyone struggling with their mental health to have exploration as an option/tool.