So, let us begin

My first blog post. I've been told that starting is better than being perfect, and whilst this is somewhat of an adventure into breaking old habits of perfectionism, I'm really embracing the "starting" here.

I'm Kate. I wasn't a traditionally outdoorsy person, but over the past few years, I've become more and more into the good ol' outdoors. To the point where I've craved to be near mountains and bodies of water when I'm stressed. How odd. Let's start at the beginning. I originally grew up in large towns and cities. I was a city girl and travelled a lot. I loved the hustle bustle of a 24-hour, never sleeps city. The buzz, the lights, the smells (the smell of hot rubber on the underground or trains). The fact you could get the most random of snacks in the middle of the night because something would be open.

I moved to a town that was on the edge of expansive fields and green land. But still insisted on driving my car or getting a taxi everywhere and didn't really make the most of nature available. I was that person.

And then the pandemic hit. The only time we were allowed outside of our houses, was for an allowance of 30 minutes per day. Brutal. And my God did I take the opportunity and run (ahem walk) with it. Given I was now working from home, I walked for 30 mins in the morning before work. The main picture in this post is one of the first pictures I took when I started walking. It was like a replacement for a commute. And I LOVED it. It was silent. Peaceful. Full of promise. Bright. Airy. Fresh. Quiet. Contemplative. Everything that my mind was not. I work in a fast paced consultancy environment, and manage a number of teams, and often find my mind is just FULL to the brim with over thinking. But I was hooked on walking and it soon became a habit. As we were allowed to venture further from the home, yet still have to keep distance, walks in forests and country parks became the vibe. Exploring huge green spaces inspired me and I became chilled every time I walked. Sometimes I would listen to an audio book or sometimes I would walk in silence. But the space allowed my brain to just figure things out. I'd often set off on a walk with a concern, or a niggle, and then by the end of the walk, my head had just figured things out for itself. It became a sanctuary for my mind to think and I've maintained the habit for the past two years.

I swear that walking and being in nature has been a total gift to me. Over the past couple of years I've actively sought out time in nature, woodland and being outdoors. This year has been a greater shift, I've had tried some random stuff (like sound baths, ice water immersion experiences, forest bathing and lots more meditation) and have really embraced exploration and adventures. I've loved the sense of wander and being able to take any path you want. I had the opportunity to take 4 weeks off work this year and I sat down and thought about what I really wanted to do. What came up again and again? Being in nature, exploring nature, exploring and adventuring with the great outdoors. And now I'm hooked. When I'm not walking, I'm planning walks. When I think of outdoors I feel genuinely relaxed and I feel like I'm at the start of something exciting. I'm an ardent journaller (is that a word? Please buckle up for The Adventure of Made Up Words by Kate), but the idea of writing specifically about my adventures in the outdoors and what that brings to me, and what that could bring to you, feels really exciting. So, it feels like the perfect time to start a blog. I'm at the start of my journey. I hope I can inspire other women to explore and adventure. I have no idea how to use a compass, or read a map properly, and I rely on my phone A LOT when I'm out and about, but I'm buzzing to capture it all and share the journey with you. To remind myself how far I've come and who knows where I'll end up! That's the thing I kinda like about walking too.