Hiking My Way to Happiness

Being active has always helped me mentally and I have wanted to subtly share that knowledge with our kids. I’ve wanted to lead by example, without being too pushy.  While many families are able to go on bike rides together, that hasn’t been easy with Alex’s physical limitations and the large age gaps in our kids’ ages. The one thing that we could all do was walk together. Even at young ages I would take the kids for long walks in strollers. It really wasn’t until we relocated almost 7 years ago to Dundas right on the Bruce Trail, that hiking became a part of our lives.

In the early days it was hard because Nicola was too little, and Alex’s muscle tone was still low. To be honest, it's been in the last year with Nicola turning 7,  and Alex growing strength and physical confidence as he enters his teens that we have been able to go on amazing hikes throughout the Dundas area and up north all along the Bruce Trail. Hiking with the kids has become a happy place for me and I think my kids….despite the expected whining here and there. Walking on rugged trails along the Bruce Trail has not only pushed us physically, the simple act of unplugging has opened a whole new sensory world around us that has been life changing.  

I know first hand how hard it is to unplug and just be mindful of the moment. I am still a work in progress, but that’s why I try to turn off my phone when we go hiking. I still bring it with me, but it's on silent and is only used as a GPS, if we go “off-roading” up north or I use it to capture the moment. It’s crazy, moments after I turn it off, my senses are heightened. In fact, the kids always laugh at me at how positive I am on hikes when I comment on the beautiful flowers, or better yet, “do you hear those birds?”. Is it positivity or am I just more mindful without the constant beeping or vibrating of my phone? 

Alex’s autism has taught me so much about senses and being more aware.  It’s fascinating how I can see him instantly calm down when we start the hike. The sheer movement of his body, and the smells around him almost immediately takes away his stress. What an unbelievable lesson he has taught us. I have come to realize that the visual beauty and the sounds of nature trigger calmness in my body. Without truly unplugging, I would never feel this joy. It’s Alex’s awareness and my unplugging that has opened a whole new world for us. While I am not sure if the other kids are as aware of their senses, I can see how the movement gives Andrew joy and the visual beauty opens Nicola’s mind. 

I hope that one day they look back with such fondness on the days when we went “off-roading” unsure where we were going, or ending up on a 10k hike when we thought it was 5km. We are so lucky to have such a sensory wonder at our backdoor. I’m excited to explore new terrain and hidden gems as we hike towards a more mindful understanding of ourselves and the beauty of nature.