INSPIRATION A to Z (H - Hiking)

This post is the eighth in a blog series where I’m exploring various aspects of INSPIRATION. When I chose INSPIRATION as my word for this year, my first thoughts were about finding, acting on and (in some cases) limiting INSPIRATION. I also knew I wanted this word to motivate me not only in my scrapbooking and crafting but also in my physical, spiritual and intellectual goals. During my FUN year last year, I published a two-week series entitled Where Does My Inspiration Come From?, which looked at the many different sources of INSPIRATION specifically for scrapbook layouts. However, in this series, I’ll be sharing a word for each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) that relates to INSPIRATION along with my random and in-depth thoughts on that word and the various ways it relates to INSPIRATION in our lives.

H is for Hiking

Hiking is defined as "walking for a long distance, especially across country or in the woods" and "walking or marching a great distance, especially through rural areas, for pleasure, exercise, military training, or the like." 

I find that simply being out in nature often provides INSPIRATION and ideas. It is so refreshing to be outdoors, soaking up the sunshine, and feeling a rush of endorphins. When Robbie and I were living in East Texas, both working full-time jobs and taking full-time college course loads, we would occasionally load up our books and a picnic lunch and head out to a local state park. We still spent our time studying, but it seemed more like a relaxing weekend break when we were able to  go hiking beside the lake for a little while before spreading our books and papers out on a rustic picnic table to do some studying.

I believe the reason it's so easy to find INSPIRATION in nature is that we are in the midst of what our Creator made in the beginning. He took a blank canvas ("the earth was without form, and void" Genesis 1:2) and fashioned a beautiful world for us to live (and go hiking) in! So, it is also important to remember that we must respect nature and be careful when we are Hiking.  We can choose to leave a positive or negative mark on this world by our actions.

Hiking was my INSPIRATION for getting fit & losing weight last year. My goal was to hike to the top of a mountain in the Canadian Rockies on my 45th birthday in July. That goal provided the INSPIRATION and motivation to eat healthy and to exercise regularly. I was focused on that goal and the "deadline" (my birthday). I planned our trip around the idea of hiking, and many of you will recall that I accomplished that goal and checked that item off my list of 50 Things To Do Before I'm 50. 

Unfortunately, without a set goal and the INSPIRATION it provided, I have not done as well this year with my fitness goals. I've struggled with maintaining a regular exercise routine and have not done as well with my eating habits since I quit tracking my consumption each day. Over the past month or so, I have been working to refocus on these healthy living goals. I even changed my desktop background so that it would be a reminder of that FUN hiking trip last year. (And I'm contemplating planning another hiking trip for added INSPIRATION!)

In summary,  Hiking can be the INSPIRATION to accomplish a goal or remain physically fit. Hiking and being out in nature also provide INSPIRATION for many other areas in our lives.

Have you done any Hiking lately? Please share your thoughts on Hiking and INSPIRATION in the comments. 

Click HERE to see all my INSPIRATION A-Z posts, or click a letter below to see individual posts.

A(Art)   B(Baking)   C(Creativity)   D(Drawing)

E(Experiences)   F(Finishing)   G(Goals)   H(Hiking)

I(Immersion)   J(Journaling)   K(Knowledge)

L(Learning)   M(Movement)   N(Nurturing) 

O(Organization)   P(Planning)   Q(Quiet)   R(Reading)

S(Style)   T(Teaching)   U(Upcycle)   V(Vacation)

W(Work)   X(Xciting)   Y(Yuletide)   Z(Zzzzzs)