HOW I HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZING JOY

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what my “perfect day” looks like. I want to have more of them so I figure awareness of what that means to me is the first step. My perfect day consists of little moments that are aligned with my purpose, move the needle towards my goals, provide an opportunity to learn or for a new experience, connect me with people/nature/myself and ultimately bring me joy. That sounds like a lot of elements but when I incorporate them into a day, I know it’s a really good day. When I thought more about this, it’s really a day filled with things that honor and evolve my mind, body and spirit. I think that’s why, to me, every day on the trail is a perfect day.

I have hiked every weekend this summer and I’ve been loving really long trails that average from 10-20 miles. A few weekends ago I planned on doing a trail in Rocky Mountain National Park that started on the Granby side. I got up really early, meditated and drove the two hours to the trailhead. When I got there I was one of the only cars in the parking lot. The drive up to Granby from Denver is beautiful and I listened to a podcast on the way up while I sipped my green tea and enjoyed the clear roads. I started the hike and had the trail to myself. The grass was frosty from the chilly mountain night and the sun was hitting it so beautifully I couldn’t help but smile. I was hiking 12.5 miles total that day up to a lake and back. I crossed bridges and hiked along a windy river. I saw deer and listened to babbling brooks. When I got to the lake I took a dip in the cold water and enjoyed the peacefulness of having the lake to myself before I headed back down to the car. On my hike down there were quite a few groups hiking up and I felt so lucky to experience the trail in its quietness earlier that morning. When I start a hike alone I’m always a little timid. My confidence builds as I continue up the trail and I am always overjoyed and proud of myself when I finish for not letting fear stop me from doing things I love. The feeling of accomplishment coming back down the trail is even greater when I overcome myself and my head chatter.

I drove the long drive home and cooked dinner for some friends that were coming over. I had the greatest evening with people I love and the greatest day with myself in nature. You could even say, it was a perfect day. I’ve realized it’s truly the simple things that make me the happiest and when I’m intentional with how I spend my time, I can incorporate these little things into my days which string together to create a pretty dang good life. During the week when I’m typically not hiking, I still get outside each day and intentionally do things that honor and support me (e.g. reading, running/walking, writing/journaling, sipping tea/coffee, cooking, praying, meditating, connecting with others, etc.).

Each day and weekend I strive to fill my time with more of what brings me joy and less of what does not. I recently heard Dr. Joe Dispenza answer a question about the secret to happiness. He said to “stop doing the things that make you unhappy”. It’s truly as simple and as complicated as that, isn’t it?

Until the next tale… Happy trails.

-Hannah