Good morning listeners! Coach Kate here with another Minute Motivation for you all this wonderful Tuesday morning. I host this space week day mornings to give you all a little boost to your day, a little perspective, or even just to explore the worlds around us and within us as we go.
Today I thought we would dive into hiking and getting out in nature and what it means to walk, hike, and even saunter as we go.
Years ago when my son was a lot littler, he had an acute disdain for hiking, often telling me that it was just a fancy word for walking. It took a few years for him to slow down, realize it's not about the destination, but the experience and connection to each other and the world around us as we go. When we're little, we have this focus on the end-- our dessert after eating, our presents at a birthday party, playtime after homework-- the art of slowing down and taking in the world around us and enjoying the journey for what it is, can be a learned appreciation that can take time to cultivate and even appreciate.
I found this lovely quote by John Muir today, who was a great environmentalist, explorer, and lover of nature-- and in fact, he is often associated with being one of the foundational people that influenced the preservation of America's State Parks.
Here is what he said about hiking:
“I don't like either the word [hike] or the thing. People ought to saunter in the mountains - not 'hike!' Do you know the origin of that word saunter? It's a beautiful word. Away back in the middle ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going they would reply, 'A la sainte terre', 'To the Holy Land.' And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers or saunterers. Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them.”
― John MuirI love what John Muir says here. It really puts the art of the hike into perspective just by changing out the word hike, to saunter. It has a completely different meaning, a completely different feeling, and most importantly, a completely different goal. So today, this early Tuesday morning, if you are thinking of going for a hike, but can't feel motivated. Ask yourself instead-- can I go for a saunter?
Thank you all for listening. This has been a minute motivation with Kate. If you liked what you heard today, be sure to give me a follow and subscribe. If you want to dive into more of my past talks, you can by visiting my profile and clicking under the talks tab to listen in.
Enjoy the Saunter.
