Just Get Outside

by Laurie Wells — March 19, 2007

Back in my younger and more ambitious days, I didn't consider an outing a worthwhile workout unless I was sprinting uphill on a crazy steep trail run that took me hours to complete. And even though I made an effort to ride my bike everywhere, I don't remember leisurely riding my bike anywhere--riding was just another opportunity to get in better shape. I suppose I'm lucky that I've never lacked in the motivation arena. I've always been eager to get stronger and faster and more flexible, and I used to get a little panicky if late afternoon hit and I hadn't done something. The little voice in my head would start to chant "It will only be harder tomorrow if you don't push yourself today." But something in me has changed. Perhaps forced by the necessity of balancing work, parenthood, marriage, and all the in-betweens, or maybe through the perspective that comes with each little bit of life experience, I've been realizing how happy I am to just be outside.

Last weekend, after puttering around the house all morning, I spent an afternoon people-watching on the local pedestrian mall with my husband and son. We slowly wandered up and down the street, taking in the sunshine without an agenda. My "workout" for the day was chasing my son as he toddled at high speed. A few days previous, I met up with a friend to take our kids for a hike up a wide, slightly sloping trail. We hiked a mile or so, then let the kids run around. I broke a sweat, but only because I was overdressed for the warm spring weather. And this evening, when a more driven me would have loaded up my son in the jogger to get in some cardio before dark, we instead played at the playground--going down the slide at least 15 times.

Don't get me wrong. There will always be a part of me that pushes myself during a tough mountain bike ride and that is not-so-secretly competitive with my husband during any physical feat. It's just that these days, rather than feeling like I need to work out before I can just relax and enjoy myself, I'm pretty likely to grin while meandering to the park or smile ear to ear while slowly coasting on my cruiser--without a thought about whether my quads are getting stronger or my heart rate has been elevated for long enough. I guess I always feared the idea of contentment as an excuse for people who were lazy. Now my inner voice chants "Be gentle with yourself and others." It has been freeing to take myself less seriously and enjoy just being outside...and the pressure that has been lifted has left so much more energy for those times when I really want to pass that guy just ahead of me on the trail.