24 Parks

I explored a patch of woods in Indiana with my 3 sons today. For us, the extraordinary memories are discovered in the quite ordinary moments. It marked the 24th and final state park that I have visited, a challenge I gave myself a few years ago during a difficult time. I have visited them with my boys and those I love – but many of them alone. I have hiked and run endless miles in the sun/wind/snow/rain; climbed uphill against creeks; biked; swam; kayaked; fished; camped; built fires and cooked delicious cast iron skillet pancakes; picnicked; foraged morels and rocks; seen sunsets/sunrises; and somewhere along the way discovered every bit of who I am. I believe in vulnerability and “showing up in the arena” – nature is truly a metaphor for this. When you hike along a path, you never know what will happen next – a squirrel can catch your eye as it bounces out of a tree, or the slick path can suddenly terminate against a fallen log. In each case you navigate, possibly against the odds, and find the things to be grateful for. Nature moves and breathes constantly, it is a rhythm we rely on, even when we are not aware. Today my boys were proud of me. Many people have done what I did, but I am teaching them to celebrate and find the joy that is always around us.