At Least We Can Still Go Hiking

I recently went for a little stroll up to a hilltop overlooking Fulda on a Sunday morning. The air was crisp and the clouds were few, and despite posted signs stating that there were newly-found ‘war materials’ in the adjacent forest, I did indeed find some peace and quiet up there. Coming off a week of anxiety induced stress, it turned out to be exactly what I needed. 

As I wandered around on that hilltop and took in the scenery, I couldn’t help but get a big stupid grin on my face. Then I started laughing because I was stupidly smiling with no one around, which only made my stupid grin bigger. (But really, how can you not smile when out in the neature?) It was truly a beautiful thing. 

That grin was beautiful because, to me, it was a small but strong gesture of defiance. It was a simple reminder that despite everything happening both in my life and around the world, going for a hike is still free and serenity a short stroll (or bike ride) away. It’s in those moments of re-centering that I remember how much I have to be thankful for. 

This has been quite the year of adjustment for all of us, to say the least. Dealing with frustration and disappointment, not being able to plan almost anything, and prolonged social isolation have certainly taken their toll on me. There are many things that I wish I could have experienced and some things (*cough* online conferences *cough*) that I don’t wish on anybody. And yet, I can still go hiking. 

And there ya have it, my thoughts as we wrap up this außergewöhnliches year. It’s simple, cliché, and quite true – all the makings for a perfect blog post, right? Here’s to something a little more gewöhnlich in 2021!