With some good tunes and a retro cruiser I set out this afternoon to go explore the coastline a little bit. It is something that I have meant to do for a while, yet always make the excuse of weather. It was only about a 5 minute ride to the sea, yet the part that is the easiest to get to is very industrial, with a huge shipping yard off to the left. It isn't the most scenic thing you have ever seen... unless you leave the comfortable road and tackle the subdued little dirt trail that winds between the seemingly limb-less trunks. I was determined to see a little more than what I already had, so I took that path on the ole cruiser. I could have been miles (sorry KM...) away from the sea and still of been happy. The forests here like I said in my last entry (yesterday, haha) are built for exploring with the ample amount of clutter-free space. I followed the trail for a while, and found myself thinking about how this awesome trail lay only minutes away from my apartment...yet I had never explored it. I was pretty disappointed in myself, yet I started really thinking about it. I mean, I have grown up in suburban America for the most part of my life. Most of my time is spent enjoying city life. I drive where ever I need to go. If I spend time outdoors, it is few and far between. I think that I have grown so used to this city life that the part of me that wants/needs to be outside is kind of shoved into a corner and collecting dust. So, now that I am in an environment that allows you to explore, I don't think of it. It isn't because I don't want to, it is because I have taught myself to resist or forget about it. So, be ready, because today I took my first bike ride toward what I hope to be a life that appreciates more what my surroundings have to offer. Whether that be a sweeping coastline with a quaint bike trail or just a deck that has a comfy chair to watch the sunset while reading a good book. It’s such a simple notion, yet it is neglected by so many people, me included. The only people that do seem to have this down are the Swedes. In a matter of an hour or so, I saw probably 30 people in the depths of the woods on this trail. Of those people 2 were in wheelchairs (shock! Wheelchair…in the woods? Yup, why not!) and more than half were double my age. It also was not that pretty of a day, there was a brisk wind from the sea and it would rain every once in a while. The Swedes make an effort to spend as much time as possible outdoors, and I think it reflects in their overall general health, both physically and mentally. You can tell this by the countless outdoor coffee shops and cafes, the almost street-wide walking paths all over the city, or just the worn in trails that wind through the forest. If there is just one thing that I can learn from the Swedes it would be enjoying the outdoors. The only thing is that I don’t think my bike is going to appreciate it, haha. After my ride it was making so many weird sounds that it was scaring the people I rode by. It definitely was built for the street and not the countryside.
I hope everyone is doing well, and I’ll put out a challenge… eat just one meal outside instead of chowin’ down inside at the diner table. Nothing planed out, just grab some Cheerios, milk and a bagel (or whatever, I keep things simple since I’m still learning how to cook actual meals) and watch the sun come up. And don’t try pulling any excuses about the weather, I’ve heard a couple times how nice it is back home. I’d love to hear if it makes a difference!
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