This year I leaned into getting to know one place very well. Well, several places, very well.
I’ve heard people say they’re tired of the trails or parks in Greater Green Bay. They want something new. I get it. I’ve felt that way too. I love knowing new places, walking new trails, and driving new backroads. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I started to see the value in getting to know one space really well.
When beforetimes life shut down and pandemic life set in, we were eager to explore all the natural places. I do mean, ALL. We went everywhere. Everything was fresh, new, exciting. We were explorers discovering new territory. We were going further and further out. We explored most of Brown County and started dipping into Door and Manitowoc Counties. While it was tempting to keep chasing new places, we couldn’t keep it up. We embraced our new favorites instead and got to really know them in all four seasons.
I’m sure you’ve done it before; it was just unintentional. As a child, you might have spent so much awake time at your neighborhood park that you knew every inch of it. Or maybe it was your backyard, or the schoolyard. You noticed the ants crawling on the peonies, the leaves crunching underfoot in fall, the roly polies scurrying around the concrete, birds and squirrels in the trees, acorns underfoot in the fall. Maybe you didn’t think about it but you knew that space.
As adults, many of us stop noticing our surroundings. Maybe it’s because we’re not limited to stay in mom and dad’s eyesight or shouting range. Or maybe because we start to believe the grass is greener on another trail. Whatever the reason, I’ve found it’s worthwhile to give myself permission to be “bored” and get to know one space intimately.
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It isn’t boring when we pull into the Sensiba State Natural Area parking area, which we’ve done repeatedly over the last 365 days. Rather, it feels like we’re visiting a good friend.
“This is where we always see the huge bullfrogs.”
“Oh, man, I love this tree.”
“Let’s see if the eagles are in their tree.”
And if we’re paying attention to the simple things, slowing down and observing up, down, and all around us, we notice new things on every single hike. We strengthen our connection to the land with every visit.
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If mobility is a challenge, you don’t even have to go outside to do it. You can inspect your view from inside. My grandmother didn’t hike or even go on walks in all the years I knew her but she knew her backyard like the back of her hand. But she did it through the kitchen window over her sink or from the back porch. Every tree branch, bird, plant, and squirrel. She was a birder at heart, just not an outside birder.
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Honestly, during a year of constant and unpredictable change, it feels good to embrace the familiar.
Where do you feel most comfortable exploring? Do have a favorite spot?
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