The Hidden Path

                I can hear the Jeep running outside as I double check the house sorting through my mind, “Did I forget anything? Do I have my backpack, water, and food?” I changed from boots to my hiking shoes “I need to cover a lot of miles today!” As I jumped in my Jeep driving off I can still feel the morning tiredness in my body, but knowing once I hit the open highway I will get that wide awake feeling back.

                I reached over and pushed the scan button on the radio to try to find that right song that will go along with my mood. As I get closer to the mountain range I can tell that my mind is now focused on the agenda for the day. I approached the dirt road, surrounded by tall pine trees and grassy meadows, I could feel the excitement that the wilderness gives. “I still have a couple miles to go,” I thought as I made a blind turn in the road and stopped the Jeep. I thought to myself, “The stream is flowing high over the road and the road looks muddy. Should I keep going on?” Mother Nature has left her mark on the land where I am heading.

                Needing to continue on, I leaned over and threw it into four-wheel drive hoping that’ll do it! I found myself thinking, “If I don’t make it I will have a long day of trying to get the Jeep out.” As I made my way through the stream and further up the mountain, I felt nervous! The mud is deep and slippery and the tires are losing traction on the road. I pulled up to the area I was going to hike, stepped outside of the vehicle and took a deep breath. I can smell the forest around me. I took a minute to admire the steep high mountains around me.  I slipped my backpack on and headed up the mountain. It seems so quiet up here, no noises from the city. No phone calls and stressful thoughts of life.

After a 3 mile hike to the grassy meadow where I had planned my destination, I was finally there, exhausted from the uphill hike. I was breathing heavily and needed to stop and sit before I headed back down to the Jeep. This break was worth it all! I sipped my water and ate my power bar enjoying each bite that was well needed to gain my energy back. I felt for a moment like I was in heaven. The clouds were hanging over me, moving slowly into different shapes. Dark ones, white ones, low ones and high ones. I could hear the birds singing their songs. I could see the wind blowing through the trees. I could hear and feel the stream behind me. This is why I love the great outdoors. These are the moments you remember! This is my place of Zen.