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Let’s Go Outside!

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April 18, 2022

We had a beautiful spring day last Friday, so James and I got out for our monthly “Explore Ohio” day. As we hiked part of the Cincinnati Nature Center, I was reminded why it’s so important for us to get outside every now and again. So today I’m sharing a spring bucket list to get us outside where we can breathe a little more deeply, bask in the beauty of nature and unplug from the fast paced, noisy world we live in.

Let's Go Outside!
Zenergy travel pants // Let’s Go Outside tee // hiking shoes // jacket // sling pack // hat // earrings

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Spring Bucket List – Let’s Go Outside!

I’ve got ideas to propel us outside whether you’re able to go for a hike or not. I’m all for getting a little exercise while we’re outdoors, but there’s definitely benefits to just sitting and soaking it in occasionally, too. Consider adding at least 10 of these to your calendar this spring. Some will fit your location better than others, but we all can dream!

#1 – Treat someone to an impromptu picnic.

Pack a simple picnic for two or three and start texting or calling friends and/or family members until you get someone to join you at a nearby park. Don’t fee rejected if someone can’t join you. Just keep inviting until you get a taker. That someone will feel so special and grateful.

Let's Get Outside

#2 – Take a hike!

Search out a new-to-you hiking trail nearby and lace up your hiking shoes. Make sure to take water and a snack along, as well as other essentials.

#3 – Sit quietly and watch the birds.

I had the best time Friday using my new Carson HD binoculars to watch the bluebirds at the Cincinnati Nature Center. But even without binoculars you can enjoy watching the birds go about their business. Consider buying a field guide similar to my Birds of Ohio book.

Let's Go Outside
Zenergy travel pants // Let’s Go Outside tee // hiking shoes // jacket // sling pack // hat // earrings // binoculars

#4 – Get out in your own backyard.

Don’t forget to spend time in your own backyard. Whether you have a small patio or a grand lawn, create a lovely space to spend time out there this spring and summer. Buy a new chair or hammock, maybe an umbrella. Or just tuck a blanket into a basket by your door so you can grab it and head out with something cool to drink and a good book.

#5 – Plant something new.

Plant some new flowers, herbs or vegetables in your yard or a container. Even if you’re not planting anything new in your yard, get out and turn up the soil a little. Add some fresh top soil or mulch if needed. Wear some pretty gardening gloves or get your hands dirty. Just enjoy digging in the dirt!

Let's Go Outside

#6 – Hit the water.

At the appropriate time for your climate, hit the water in a kayak or canoe. Look into a service that will rent you the water vessel as well as safety gear and transport you to the launching point on the river if needed. Take your time; this is not a race!

#7 – Take a child to feed the ducks.

When my children were preschoolers my dear friend Frances would pick them up occasionally just to take them to a local pond to feed the ducks. It was a respite for me, a thrill for them and a sweet act of service for her. Win, win, win!

Watch the Birds

#8 – Visit a nearby nature center or wildlife refuge.

In the United States we are blessed to have nature centers, nature preserves and wildlife refuges scattered everywhere. I suggest you put something like “nature centers near me” in your favorite search engine to see what comes up. Of course there are also private and municipal gardens you can visit in many areas. Consider buying a membership if they’re available. We purchased a membership to the Cincinnati Nature Center because we hope that will compel us to take advantage of the many programs and use the facility more frequently.

#9 – Grill out.

Maybe it’s time to take your meals outdoors. Or at least begin the meal there by grilling out. I’ve discovered that we actually eat a little more healthily when we grill out, too. Grill enough chicken for the week ahead and you’ll be able to make tasty, healthy salads for lunches.

Let's Go Outside

#10 – Volunteer to pick up trash.

Most communities rely on volunteers to clean up the streets and byways. Check out the Keep America Beautiful website to see where and when you can volunteer to pick up litter in your community.

#11 – Take a child on a nature walk.

It’s so much fun to see the world through a child’s eyes. Whether you take your grandchild for a stroll around the neighborhood or a rigorous hike through the woods, help them to slow down and really see the world around them. Pause for opportunities to feel the breeze, listen to the birds, smell the flowers or watch the deer.

Let's Go Outside

#12 – Walk on the beach.

No, I don’t live anywhere near a beach either. But I’d be amiss not to mention this amazing opportunity to go outside and experience the majesty of the waves. If you do live anywhere near the ocean or other large body of water, definitely make the trip to walk along the shore.

#13 – Dine out…alfresco.

Go ahead and dress up. No need to pack a picnic. Instead choose a favorite restaurant that offers alfresco dining. Call ahead for reservations if necessary. Don’t forget to take along a pretty wrap in case there’s a chill in the air.

#14 – Visit the animals.

Spring is a great time to visit a zoo, animal farm or even a smaller petting zoo because so many animals are born at this time of year. You’ll get to see the babies!

Let's Go Outside

#15 – Take your work outside.

It may take a little creativity, but do what you need to do to work outside for an hour or two. Take your classroom of kids outside for a group project, wheel a patient into the courtyard for a therapy session, meet with a client for coffee in a park or pack up your laptop and head to a picnic pavilion.

#16 – Sit on your front steps and wave to the neighbors.

That’s right, you read me correctly. Sit on the front porch, not the back, for once. Watch the neighbors work in the yards, walk their dogs and fetch their mail. Pray for them. And of course be friendly.

Let's Go Outside
Zenergy travel pants // Let’s Go Outside tee // hiking shoes // jacket // sling pack // hat // earrings

Well, I’ve run out of pictures to share, so I think I’ll stop my list there. But maybe you’d like to join the conversation and suggest other prompts to get us outside. I’d love to hear from you today. And even if you don’t want to leave a comment, be sure to check out recommendations from others. Just click on LEAVE A COMMENT below the post to access the comments.

Of course, everything I’ve shown in today’s post is also available. You can shop the links below the photo above or through the shopping widget at the bottom of this post. And let me know if you have any questions.

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Blessed for My Day

Not only does stepping out into nature reinvigorate us physically and emotionally, but it helps us to connect with our Creator in a fresh way. Through experiencing God’s creation we can see more clearly the attributes of the Creator. For instance, when I spend time watching the birds eat the seeds of the earth I’m reminded that God provides for them every day. In the same way, He provides my every need just when I truly need it. I never go without if I lean into my Provider.

Slow down a little today and really soak in part of the world around you. Whether you are able to listen to the roar of the ocean, watch a busy squirrel, gather wild flowers or pet your own dog, take those moments to see a fresh glimpse of God. Yes, be thankful for the creation. But look beyond the beauty of creation to the fuller glory of God, the One who created it…and you.

Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. ~ Romans 1:19-20

xoxo, Kay
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27 thoughts on “Let’s Go Outside!

  1. I cannot access the comments just to read them as I could before. So I clicked on the subscribe without commenting and now it says I’ll get an email every time an approved comment is posted. That seems excessive to me. I just want to read the post and the comments all at once. Am I missing something here?

    1. Hi Julia. The comments section works the same way it did before other than the fact that you need to click on “Leave a Comment” in order to see them. Actually we are changing that to “Join the Conversation.” I think the problem was that there were no comments there yet. Yours is the first comment on this post.

      1. Thank you Kay. I realize now that there weren’t comments earlier. I’m not prone to comment but I love reading what others say. Your posts are wonderful and informative.

  2. Once again, thank you Kay! You are a breath of fresh air. The simple (but wonderful!),act of being outside is amazingly restorative. Throw your phones in a closet and walk out in the woods ladies. Open your eyes and souls to the beauty all around.

  3. Thank you for your inspiring comments and especially the “Blessed for my Day” inspiration. It is totally on target today.

  4. I love your suggestions!
    Slowing down and watching the beautiful birds in my yard is a source of joy for me.

    1. Me, too. I just spent some time watching the birds this morning. I think it lowers my blood pressure a bit. So it brings me joy but also a little calm.

  5. Thank you, Kay, for the wonderful tips this morning! It’s snowing here in Indy, but I know Spring is just moving a bit slowly this morning! I am looking forward to implementing many of these ideas!

    1. Ahh, yes. We have had a wintry mix here, too. But it looks like next weekend we’ll be in the 80s. Hahaha! It’s coming!

    1. Nothing has changed in regards to the ads. In fact there are fewer ads than before. Significantly fewer. I appreciate your understanding. Ad revenue is one of the ways I support my household. You can always “X” out of the ads in the corner of them. If ads are truly blocking your view of content please email me a screenshot so I can share that with my ad company.

  6. I just came back from a walk in the woods and around the fishing lake near my house. Such a beautiful spring day and being out in nature just fills my cup. A wonderful way to spend my day off.

  7. I can hardly wait to get out in my yard and tend to the flowers and plant herbs and flowers in my pots outside. To take walks. Still a little chilly here today. Got down to 22 last night and woke up
    to a dusting of snow on the ground. Waiting anxiously for 60 degree weather for the week instead of a day here and there and back down to the 30’s. Nice BFMD.

    1. Oh my! It’s cold here again today too, and we’ve had a wintry mix this morning. One of these days! Thanks for sharing, Sherry.

  8. Inspiring ideas, Kay. Love the idea of a sudden picnic. One more quick one: If you have chairs on a porch, deck, or patio, answer your phone call and take it outside. Or make your phone calls outside. Even a quick dose of green, birds, and squirrels lifts my spirits. Here in Columbia, SC we’ve gone from bare branches to solid green across the back of our house in about 10 days. It’s so fun to note the extraordinary progress day to day and think of the incredible energy pushing out millions and millions of leaves and flowers around us. In 10 days! A stunning visual of the mighty power of God to bring new life. (I try not to think about the two months it will take to clean them up in the fall. :0 )

    1. Ahh, I love that idea, Lael. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m going to put that phone call tip into practice as soon as we have good weather again. We had snow again today! But we are definitely greening up a bit!

  9. Kay,
    I can’t wait to enjoy nature as soon as the weather cooperates. I have a river nearby and Lake Erie is only a few minutes away. It’s so uplifting to see how springtime changes the dreary winter landscape. Budding trees and green grass!
    The reader with the pop-up ads has the same problem I have. Clearing the browser of cookies helps. Now it seems every website asks for cookies permission with yes/no options and ads blocking areas on the screen that I want to read. The ads are from many other sites visited not just yours.

    Thanks for the great post.

    1. Yes we all have to deal with those annoying permissions pop ups. Those are required by law. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for sharing!

  10. God has given us a beautiful world. Thanks for reminding us to enjoy it! Love your daily posts and your enthusiasm for life.

  11. Get out and walk the dog. Don’t have a dog? Shelters often welcome people who will take their dogs out for walks. That can be a win-win!

  12. Opening your new site on my computer and it is FABULOUS! I thought the old one was fine, but this is REALLY easy to read and find different features! Well done! Great outdoor ideas…I’m inspired!

    1. Thank you, Karen. That is so encouraging. I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know you like the new site.

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