Nature doesn’t ask anything from you—except to be present. This trip wasn’t just camping; it was healing in the form of dirt under your nails, sun burnt lips, and quiet moments that speak louder than words. Reach into your inner child and heal with a dose of vitamin C, and the three takeaways that shook me out of city life and straight into peace of mind.
Take Risks
Maybe you’re not someone who can just take that leap of faith.
You’ve always hated mashed potatoes, so why try a french fry?
But if you’re yearning to see different results in your life, start taking steps to get to your desired outcome. Different hobbies may surprise you! You may experience a gift in the rut or come out of it having learned something new—and that might be the whole point. I never ruled camping out completely, but I also never pictured myself doing it either.
Turns out a few days in nature can clear what months of routine never could.
My first camping trip ever made me feel an overflowing amount of gratitude for nature. Surrounding myself with tall pine trees, the imperfections of how water falls from rock to rock, and the quiet hum of life away from city sounds—there’s nothing like it.
We drove about 6 ½ hours in a Honda Civic packed to the roof. Trunk and back seat oozing with latex fabric, a cooler, and bags overweight with “survival” for the next 3-night, 2-day camping trip to Lake Eleanor, Yosemite.
Marco told me there’s a place that not a lot of people get to experience. They think of Yosemite as the main entrance, instead of going around the back to this natural oasis. Glistening waters, bear boxes to hide your food from nosey predators—we rowed to shore in our dark green inflatable canoe with well over the recommended amount of gear.
Be Made Uncomfortable
You come off a trip like that with scratches and sun peeling, but also with a grounded sense of belonging. We all have a purpose on this rotating rock we call home—just as much as duckling following its mama, or white crocuses do in feeding chunky squirrels.
Sleeping on the ground, waking up to cook your eggs, and making use of every shining moment under the sun before it’s cast into darkness. Usually I carry very little stress when it comes to handling an ‘out of my control’ situation.
But try having way too much stuff on your raft while trying to find camp—it took us about a mile of rowing before we found a beautiful spot tucked into what felt like our own little island. The sound of waterfalls on each end made it feel like a retreat to a land far, far away. The start of a fairy tale.
Climb the Highest Mountain
A morning hike in my new trail running shoes led us to a pathway of open valleys, where teeny tiny white and pink flowers blossomed from the ground. We climbed rocks to reach a flat surface and found a hidden trail on the other side—it felt like one long, needed stretch.
That night, we star-gazed beside a beautifully lit fire, each bite of a messy, 2-marshmallow s’more adding to the warmth. The simplicities almost felt like a time stamp— fleeting and perfect.
We fell asleep on a rocking hammock until it stilled. The next day, Marco and I dedicated ourselves to nothing more than being: laying lake-side, sunbathing, sipping IPAs, and jumping in and out of the water without a single care.
Nature heals because it reminds us to slow down, be present, and find joy in every little thing, being or none. Sometimes, all it takes is a little fresh air and a change of scenery to reset your mind.