“Capitol Wreath”

Last year, I listened to a podcast describing what researchers at UC Berkeley explain as the power of awe. They found that being in nature, taking in moments to notice the big beautiful world, can support the wellness of an individual’s mental health. These awe moments can take place anywhere outside: on a walk looking at the mountains, jogging through the woods, staring up at the sky when you take the garbage out, watching the sunset from your doorstep, taking a hike through desert plateaus. Noticing the miracle that is the complexity, beauty, and vastness of earth is medicine for the brain.

Upon hearing this, I thought to myself, “People have known nature is good for the soul for eons, but to prove it scientifically, well that’s just the cherry on top.” And with that, I’ve noticed more fully those awe moments. 

We had many of those on our latest trip with cousins to Capitol Reef National Park this month. Celebrated as the least visited National Park of the five housed in Utah, the place is less busy, and even more so in January. Seeing the white snow against the red rock was magnificent. 

Elsie got a comfy ride sitting in the backpack and seeing the sights with Jess. 

We looked like billy goats hiking the trail. 

I kept telling the kids to “wear layers!” and not to “forget hats!” I harnessed my inner Julie Ann Johnson, and made sure all kids were warm from head to toe. We started out in winter coats. Turns out, the weather was perfect, in the upper 50s, and I ended being the coat goat (it’s similar to being a bag lady but carrying coats, so like a coat lady),

But I’ll be the coat goat any day if it means we hike in perfect weather. 

The kids loved sitting in the alcoves in the sandstone. 

And we loved seeing natural bridges. (I love Ian in this photo with his “hiking stick :)

And walking (and dancing) on the frozen creek. The kids loved throwing rocks on (not in) it. Ha!




We called Elsie “the spider baby” because she was crawling up rocks and over sticks like it was no big deal. We’d bring her back to where we were eating lunch and then she’d take off again, over the smooth rocks. 

We stopped to look at petroglyphs. I love this kind of stuff. 

We hiked up to Cassidy Arch which is no easy feat. Ian did the whole thing without complaint (although, the last quarter required some fun discussion about his preschool’s Teddy Bear Picnic to keep him moving). 

We had myriad awe moments. We’ll have to tell Elsie about this one. 

It was a wonderful time. Due to the short nature of the trip, we decided we’d better go back soon. 

Action!

I recently read a woman’s goals for the new year. She went on like this, “I’d like to produce a show, and write a book...no, two books, and maybe start a podcast!” I kind of couldn’t believe it. Who sets their sights so dang high!?! Then I got to thinking about my sights. How high are they? What goals am I after? How much time, energy, strength do I give, can I give, to my sights? 

I’m often impressed with the “go and just do it” attitude I witness constantly around me. “These people must be really good at succeeding,” I think to myself.  But after talking with so many, I realize they aren’t good at succeeding, they are good at setting goals and then really putting energy, lots of energy, into those goals.

 

My sister once told me she was going to make it a goal to be in at least one art show a year. “Whoa! That’s hard!” I thought to myself. She did it and continues to do so. Some years even more than one.

My sister-in-law said she was going to get her Masters as a 40+ year old and begin her career. “But she’s so busy, how can she do it all?” Again, I thought it would be hard. But she did it and is now in a job she loves, helping others. 

Another sister-in-law said she wanted to run a marathon. “Way too long. Way too hard,” my usual thoughts echoed. She did it, and has now finished more than one. 

Of course all of these things were hard and they definitely took work but they all saw their goals through!

Jess and I talk a lot to our kids about doing hard things. We say things like:  You can do it! It makes you stronger! You grow! You realize the things you can do! It’s an amazing feeling when you discover the power you have! Sometimes you have to force yourself to try! Now it’s time I take those statements and turn them into action. 

Now I’ve done some hard things, don’t get me wrong. I can do them. But I’ve also passed up a lot of things that I’d love to do but I’m so afraid of failing that I don’t even try. “Too hard!” I think.

And so, I make this post as a pep talk to myself. I need pep talks. I’ve needed them since I was a kid, and I still need them now. And with that I say, Ashley, sometimes you have to force yourself to try. You can do it!

Spaghetti dinner

at 10 months...