By Minka Koskinen

Waking up one morning  I was struck by how horrible I had been feeling the past year, a deep sense of malaise. The feeling of burnout, stagnation, and fog has grown larger and larger until it seemed to consume the majority of my days and I knew this was not the way I should be feeling especially long-term. While facing this feeling I reflected on when I felt my best and what I could do to improve my mood and give my mind a break – then it hit me.

Growing up I loved exploring the woods behind the house and as a family we would often go camping, sometimes locally (I grew up in the Ozarks) or we would take trips to Estes Park in Colorado (a rare treat every few years). I thought about these moments in life where I felt the most free, full of wonder, and at peace. The couch in which I had sunken into the past few weeks suddenly felt like a glue trap instead of the cozy rest spot it used to be. So I decided to leave it and I had some help.

My dog, Saga. Last year I decided to get a dog. I knew I wanted to get out of the house more but I didn’t have much motivation to do so and my cat, though I love her dearly, wasn’t helping me get off the sofa. I worked throughout the year as she grew bigger to train her to be trail ready. Saga is a Finnish Lapphund which means Minnesota winter is no challenge for her. So now her being over a year old we finally set off. 

Minnesota River Bottoms Trails has been our go to spot and we have been hitting the trails weekly. While hiking through these trails, having the quiet of nature, and the beautiful scenery I found that I could walk for hours, feeling blissful and serene, and most importantly: at peace. I felt like I was using a cheat code for life.

Hiking whether alone or with Saga has helped clear the mental clutter, reduced stress, and I even felt an increase in energy. Being in nature provides powerful psychological affects. The sights, sounds, and even the textures of nature have helped me feel grounded and in a positive way I felt small. When I am sinking into the couch at home everything I feel has the weight and impact of 1000 but here among the trees, none of that really matters, I am just a part of this forest and it takes the weight of the world off. 

Embracing the slowness and being present has helped me tolerate uncertainty and discomfort. Nature and hiking has allowed me the rediscovery of curiosity, play, and wonder. While the world still feels like it is on fire and the sense of malaise has a way of creeping back, I know I can always escape into the woods for a few hours.

Cover and Article photo by Minka Koskinen