As undergraduate students, we live in Bloomington for only a short time.
We have four years to make friends, go to a few parties and earn our diploma along the way.
Maybe we’ll crack open a book or two.
Sometimes, however, we forget to explore everything that surrounds us.
The Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I began my day at 1 p.m.
It was an unusually and despicably late start to my day, but I accepted it.
I had plans to be ?productive — go to the ?grocery store, work out and consider doing homework.
One of my girlfriends messaged a group chat of five of our friends asking if anyone wanted to go exploring on this beautiful day.
Even though I was ?determined to actually get things done, I couldn’t turn it down.
I’ll get my work done Monday, I decided.
By 3 p.m., the five of us were on our way to Brown County to go hiking.
We got there, found a trail and began trudging through the narrow, muddy pathway.
By then, it was getting cold, and we only had a ?couple hours of sunlight left.
My first reaction to the mud soaking through my ?favorite tennis shoes was to turn around and go back home where it was warm and mud-free.
But we kept walking, making fun of our lack of experience in the great outdoors.
I probably spent more time fixated on the ground than I did enjoying my surroundings. My main goal was not to fall and sacrifice a sneaker to the depths of the muddy trail.
But suddenly I realized how peaceful it all was.
We had the woods to ourselves, minus a few dog ?walkers and parents with their restless children.
It was a two-hour mental break from reality. I slowly began to allow myself to relax and soak it in.
For once I felt like I could breathe.
Since none of us were skilled hikers, we only took a 2-mile trail. Let’s take things one step at a time.
We took a few pictures of the forest as the sun was ?setting, as well as some candid photos of each other.
I photo-bombed as many Snapchats as I possibly could.
Finally, we reached a log cabin that overlooked the entire landscape.
The view was spectacular, and I was so happy I had stuck it out and finally stopped complaining.
My fingers were numb from the cold, but I didn’t care.
I was with good friends in a place I’d never been to before. I was letting myself enjoy the world around me.
I was almost sad to return to civilization.
Too often, we get caught up in our to-do lists and ?responsibilities.
We forget that taking a day to relax and recharge is valuable to our mental health.
If I had stayed home, I would have spent a majority of the day alone, running errands and worrying about next week.
But taking just half the day to mentally and physically separate myself from my responsibilities helped me relax and become even more ?focused than before.
I encourage everyone to try out something new, like hiking, at least every once in awhile.
Next time I go hiking, I plan on leaving all electronic distractions in the car.
This is our time to explore.
nrowthor@indiana.edu
