I've taken on a few mini-challenges in the course of this blogging adventure. I tackled the
Juice fitness challenge (hurray!), and I did battle with Steven in the
RAGBRAI Royalty Challenge (dang!). Now, I face a new challenge. One completely of my own making.
I ask (okay force) my composition students to do a 30-Day "Quest" each semester. They can choose any kind of quest, as long as it involves changing something in their lives. Often they choose quests that are for the better: spending more time with their kids, quitting smoking, or giving up the fast food. And, often these quests are pretty challenging. Not only do they have to complete the quest, along with a semester's worth of work, but I also make them blog about the process.
In the past, I've made some half-hearted attempts to join them on these quests, but often I get bogged down in school work and other obligations and my quests
sort of fizzle out. This semester, though, I think it's only fair that I give it the old college try, once again.
Outside, it is a glorious, sunny, 60-degree October day, but unless I check the app on my phone, I wouldn't know it. I get up in the morning, drive to the YMCA, and exercise in doors on the treadmill or
lifting weights. I drive to school, gazing longingly at the beautiful Iowa landscape all around me. Then, I sit at a computer, teach a class, grade in my office, then drive home and go to bed. Right now, I am sitting in my windowless office in front of a computer.
I like to think of myself as an outdoorsy person (who thinks of themselves as an indoorsy person?), and yet, the only thing I do that is outdoorsy these days is think about myself as an outdoorsy person. I dream of those lazy backpacking trips through the deep woods of Northern Minnesota, the cool breezes of Lake Superior, the sun-baked smell of fallen pine needles, waking up with the sun high in the brilliant sky. I long for the bike rides of summer, birds darting through the trees as I roll through their peace and quiet, sweat on my back and on my brow as I breath deeply of all that glorious fresh air. I miss all the wacky things you see when you are outside:
crop dusters, and
turtles, and
ubiquitous neon sports bras. Being outside almost instantly guarantees an adventure.
This semester, the inside obligations have added up. I've got a boatload of classes (though, I have to say my students this semester spectacular) and tidal waves of papers to grade. Half of those classes are online and there are limits to laptops. I've got a lot of drive-time this semester too, as my course load takes me to three different campuses three times a day. When I am home, our new house always wants to be cleaned or maintained.
If I am going to be successful, I am going to have to be sneaky. I am going to have to work in outdoors time into my schedule without adding too much to my already hectic life.
For the next 30 days, I am going to challenge myself to spend at least 30-hours outside. Ideally, those hours will be spent exercising outdoors. I almost always make time for exercise. I hit the gym 4-6 times a week. Instead of elliptical-ling my way through old YMCA magazines and Lady Gaga Radio on Pandora, I might take a hike. I can put the Heartbreaker in the Mazda. Instead of heading right to Ankeny from Newton on Thursday afternoons, I might dash up to Baxter and back. I could even walk my kettlebell down to Witmer park for a little calisthenics
al fresco. Raking leaves, perfect. Walking to the grocery store, sure. Eating outside, perhaps.
Of course, exercise is ideal, I am not limiting myself. If the only thing I have to do is sit in the sunshine on the back deck and grade papers, that counts. Running from building to car does not count. Driving with the windows down does not count. Camping or sleeping outside does count.
My outdoors time needs to be quality time. Bonus-warm-fuzzy feelings for time spent in physical activities. Bonus-warm-fuzzy feelings for spending time outdoors in places I've never been before.
Bad weather might be an issue, but I've got enough coats and high performance outwear to launch an expedition to Anna Purna. I might not have time every day, but I can always make up the hours on the weekends or on Friday afternoons. The White Tiger and I are also planning a visit to Steven and the Mayor in Boulder at the end of the month. Those two are always hiking up and down mountains,
with their Tuque and sprocket in tow, so I can always play catch up.
The benefits of being outside are too numerous to count. There are studies that say that simply being
around trees lowers blood pressure. There
has to be a scientist who has proven that being outside makes people happier and better able to focus. I know I will be less stressed and cooking up sneaky ways to get outside will be a fun challenge. Those benefits alone, I know, will make all the indoors tasks of my life easier to manage.
I like to think of myself as an outdoorsy person (who thinks of themselves as an indoorsy person?), and yet, the only thing I do that is outdoorsy these days is think about myself as an outdoorsy person. I dream of those lazy backpacking trips through the deep woods of Northern Minnesota, the cool breezes of Lake Superior, the sun-baked smell of fallen pine needles, waking up with the sun high in the brilliant sky. I long for the bike rides of summer, birds darting through the trees as I roll through their peace and quiet, sweat on my back and on my brow as I breath deeply of all that glorious fresh air. I miss all the wacky things you see when you are outside: crop dusters, and turtles, and ubiquitous neon sports bras. Being outside almost instantly guarantees an adventure.
