A New York Times op-ed this weekend, “How to Lick a Slug”, serves as inspiration and motivation that the little steps I’m taking to get our twins outside early, is building a habit for myself and our family to always seek rejuvenation and wonder from the natural world.
Living in northern Nevada, we’re fond of citing the proximity to outdoor recreation and some of the most beautiful places on the planet, Lake Tahoe, the Black Rock Desert, the eastern Sierra, etc. All too easy, however, is forgetting to routinely drink from these wells here in our urban day-to-day existence. Joking with a friend the other day about my plans for taking care of our twin 8-month old babies the other weekend while mom was in California enjoying a much deserved weekend of r and r, I made the comment that “I might as well take them on a mini road trip- just as much effort to take care of them while traveling as it is to sit at home.”
Well, that’s not exactly true, but spending time with our twin boys for me has gotten me back into running regularly for exercise, as we recently picked up a second-hand jogging stroller, an InStep Safari Swivel Double Jogging Stroller
Nicholas Kristof speaks of time away from the modern world “fretting instead about blisters, river crossings and rain, and the experiences offer us lessons on inner peace and life’s meaning.” Well I can’t say the boys Tahoe trip was a philosophical breakthrough, but it was a start. Listening to the waves, putting feet into cold, clear water, and feeling the hot sun accompanied by a cool mountain breeze- just the ticket to a start of a life properly spent outdoors for our twins.
