It’s in my nature. There’s just so much left to see in this world to see, and I’ll never stop exploring it.
But after several recent trips abroad, I’ve been feeling inspired to explore the beauty that is my own backyard, enjoying the natural wonders that are within arm’s reach. During my travels I met several people who dreamt of visiting the US and Canada, to explore the mountains, the lakes, the coasts. They made me realize that sometimes we take for granted the wonders around us.
I guess that in today’s world of social media, we’re bombarded with photo after photo of exotic locations around the world, often times evoking a feeling that we need to be there, doing that, and that what’s here and now isn’t enough. We spend our days dreaming about tomorrows, and lose sight of what’s right under our noses.
But when you take a minute to look around, there’s an undeniable comfort and tranquility in your own backyard. Something familiar that almost beckons, like a childhood friend “hey, come stay a while.”
This tension created between my insatiable appetite for planning foreign adventures and my desire to live in the present, exploring the natural beauty of my home, this push and pull, this is my Moosejaw Madness.
So this summer, I’m making a conscious effort to forget about the nearby airport and instead explore more of my own surroundings, embarking on weekend adventures accessible by car, bike, or hike.
his tension created between my insatiable appetite for planning foreign adventures and my desire to live in the present, exploring the natural beauty of my home, this push and pull, this is my Moosejaw Madness.
So this summer, I’m making a conscious effort to forget about the nearby airport and instead explore more of my own surroundings, embarking on weekend adventures accessible by car, bike, or hike.
More often than not, I’m spending my time with a tent over my head, and dirt between my toes. My phone is turned off, and I’m present in what is happening here and now.
And thanks to our friends at Moosejaw, we’ve been able to access and explore more of these local getaways.
Last weekend, for example, I decided to embrace my Moosejaw Madness, pack up the car, and head to a hidden gem just a few hours away, Waterton Lakes National Park. With its spectacular wildflowers, mountains, wildlife and glacial lakes, this wild wonder reminded me that there’s always adventure to be had right outside your door. With our Big Agnes and Moosejaw Nalgenes in tow, we camped under the stars – phones out of reach and dreams of foreign travels gone in the summer winds. We were here.
In a few months, I’ll be back on a plane, kicking off a new adventure in a country that I’ve always dreamed of visiting. But for now, I won’t let daydreams of the future mask the magic of the present, as I take full advantage of the beauty in my own backyard.
