I so needed this distraction today! I just got back from a great trip and am having the post vacation blues!! Ever get em’?!
This weeks WordPress Photo Challenge – “Where You Belong” – is such a great challenge for me. I feel like there are so many places I belong, but the place I always want to be is in nature!!
A good friend of mine and fellow blogger Miss Adventure Pants posted this the other day on her facebook page. Of course I ate the content up!
Call to the Wild: This is Your Brain on Nature
In this article it states:
“When we get closer to nature—be it untouched wilderness or a backyard tree—we do our overstressed brains a favor.”
I am living proof this is true!! I NEED to be in nature. Nature is my church. I need to see trees, breathe in clean air, and be far away from people when life gets overwhelming! My blood pressure and attitude are instantly adjusted – it’s crazy and wonderful – better than any drug on the market for sure.
Hope you enjoy the recent vacation pics that represent peace and serenity for thelifebus! Just looking at these makes me calm after a very stressful week back to reality.
Hugging Trees: (A Redwood forest, Northern California)
Camping: (Lost Coast, Northern California)
Backpacking: (Lost Coast, Northern California)
Golfing: (Northwood Golf Course, Northern California)
And last but not least, we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE wildlife in ANY form! (Starfish on the beach of the Lost Coast)
Cheers,
Pam
I’m with you! Nature is my church too. Lovely photos.
I would expect nothing less from my fellow Coloradan (is that a word?!). I hope u are having a good weekend!
It’s a word I use. Haha I’m a little bummed about the weather this weekend. I wanted to get out and hike for Mother’s Day, but we’ll figure out Plan B. Hope you’re having a great one too!
I know! Though I am catching up on all sorts of stuff today because it is a bit gloomy! Happy Mother’s Day tomorrow!
Same to you! Assuming you’re a mom. 🙂
mom to a dog and kitty!
Estes Park looks amazing today! Certainly not here in Denver.
Ohhhh, maybe we’ll head up there! FoCo is very wet and dreary too.
All gorgeous photos! Hope you have a nature filled Sunday to beat your blues 😉
Thanks lady! I will be golfing on Sunday ❤️. In the meantime, I am unpacking from my trip. I have a tendency to procrastinate on that. It’s like pulling teeth for me! Have a great day!!
Where was your fab last trip? Was it the one in California?
Yes! Backpacking the Lost Coast, San Francisco, and Sonoma. SO fun. Sad I am back at work. lol
Come on, show us the pictures and the anecdotes!!!
Oh I will! Don’t worry. Lol. Haven’t been in the writing groove lately, but it’s coming!
Totally agree with ‘nature is my church’. 🙏
Love a kindred spirit! I have a belt buckle with this saying on it. LOVE it! Have a great day!
I like and use the same drug! 🙂 Busy times and some recent city travel mean I am craving a return to nature these days myself. Love the tree-hugging shot!
It’s amazing right? And soo much cheaper! Good for the soul too when you lose a loved one 😢. Wish ya lived in Colorado! You, Julie from Empty Nest Adventures and I could get out and explore! It’s been a crappy weekend with weather. I may just have to get out in the rain anyway. Hope TX is better!
I was actually in CO Thurs-Sat! I had fantastic weather the first two days although Saturday did cloud up closer to the mountains. It was weird; Littleton and Golden were socked in with clouds, but downtown was sunny!
Nice! Visiting your son I presume?!! Hope ya had a great time!
Of course you are! Your pics are a fabulous ode to nature. They and your words resonate with an Instagram post I read yesterday:
Take care in this moment of post-travel blues… 😍😍😍
Love this Jules! It is sooo true. I am looking forward to the day when most of my time is spent outside rather than in an office!!
it seem you enjoyed a lot and read your post which is really true and appreciate for this post. Thanks for sharing and its a good message for everyone
Thanks Prabhu! I hope to make it to India some day!!
Hi Pam,Thinking of you today and thanks for what you do to help others enjoy nature. Have you read the book The Overstory by Richard Powers? Pretty interesting!Best to you!Kathy Duerr
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Awww, miss you Kathy! You are such a sweetheart!! I have not, but it sounds like I need to! I’ll check it out! Hugs to you and Ed!
I hear you, Pam! Post-vacation blues is the worst! I think that’s why I comb through all my photos maniacally post-trip: my way of enjoying the time all over again!
Also, I get your need to be in nature. I was just running through a rainforest path yesterday and was just soaking in all the green vibes – so cleansing and refreshing!
Your Tree-Hugging pic is the best! Love it!
Thanks for the empathy lady!! It’s been somewhat of a struggle this past week. Ugh. This too shall pass like any other black cloud. Right?! 😊
I always tell my kids (and anyone who will listen): nothing lasts forever! If things are not going well, take heart, it will eventually end. If things are wonderful, enjoy it like crazy!
Totally agree!!! Thanks for the perspective ❤️
It looks like you had a wonderful trip, with plenty of Nature to appreciate, and tree hugging. Cities can be toxic. I agree it’s great to get away from it for a while. Here’s hoping your next trip isn’t too far away. October, if I recall correctly?
It was fantastic – I was bummed to end it! Next trip is Crested Butte in July and Switzerland/Italy in August. Just around the corner. Glad to hear your trip is going well. 😊😊😊
July, August, etc. Do you ever work?
Ha! You are not the first person to ask me that! YES! Too much! But, I do take 6 weeks of vacation a year…..much to my colleagues and client’s frustration. Sometimes it’s more. I maximize my weekends too, so it seems as though I am always on vacation! 🙂
I also travel every week for work, and find fun stuff to do while I am there to make it worth my while. 😉
Your nature shots are like a breath of fresh air on this rainy afternoon.
Thanks Karen!! I am ready to see just a tad bit of sun about now!! I hope you had a great weekend!
Sounds like a good day. Big feckin tree! 👍
It is a big feckin tree!! LOL
Beautiful pics! I will never forgive my son for moving away from Northern Cal. Of course, Oregon is a good destination too. And Colorado. And, of course, I am glad that one of them stayed close to home in PA! I love nature, trail running and hiking, as long as I can sleep INSIDE. The 24 hour trail relay in the rain I just completed reinforced my lifelong no camping rule!
Ha! Camping in the rain is truly a bummer. I don’t know of anyone who digs that! Northern California may be in my future ;-).
I was just reading a blog by a woman hiking the Appalachian Trail. Can’t understand how you can be out there day after day in wet, cold stuff!!! Ugh!
I know right? Though I would like to do part of that trail some Day!
I love nature!!! Beautiful photos. I haven’t seen a Redwood in California, but I just saw one in Scotland!! From the tour bus so unfortunately no photo, but it was still amazing that an estate had brought in two to flank its entry (the tour guide said they were still young too).
Cool! I haven’t been able to spend a lot of time on WP lately, but look forward to reading about your trip!
We love nature and love hiking. When hiking in Finland, on the Arctic Hills it happens among free roaming reindeers
The Tree photo is incredible!
Thanks! Finland looks like and incredible place to hike. So green and lush!
Nice photos again! I agree with you, my place is in the wild as well. I think all humans belong in the wild most of them just don’t know it haha. BTW I saw the redwood tree, have you been to the Sequoias yet? Amazing place!
I have near Yosemite! Yes! Beautiful!We love like minded people at the Lifebus!!! I’m glad some people don’t have that epiphany – means more space for us 🙂
Heck yeah! I agree! 😃
😊😊😊
Wow. First photo is incredible! Thank You showing it.
Have a good day!
Thank you so much! Appreciate you dropping by!!