I’m not sure where my running bug went, but I don’t care to find it anytime soon. OK, so that’s not entirely true. I still think about running all the time, I just don’t DO IT all the time. Instead I have been filling my soul with the trees and rocks of mountains.
OH HEY that’s me! Standing on a mountain and stuff.
I’ve always been able to relate my running endeavors to life, and in all reality any difficult physical activity can probably relate to life in a round about way. Since hiking is my adventure of choice these days it just seems fitting to reflect on how a difficult climb can mean so much.
Mt. Si – 4 miles up, 4 miles down. Beautiful 8 mile hike.
Last Thursday I made my way to a new hiking location, which will be a common theme on the blog during the summer months. I’ve been lucky enough to find a couple friends that are willing to hike weekly.
Life Lesson One: Conquering a new mountain is like letting new and exciting changes occur in your everyday life. Getting out of your comfort zone is good for the mind, body, AND soul.
These woods were quiet, peaceful, and aside from conversation with my hiking partner, they offered alone time with thoughts.
Life Lesson Two: Quieting the outside world, and learning to quiet the mind is powerful. Chaos internally causes chaos externally.
Sometimes the climb gets tough, this one was moderate, and while my heart-rate spiked I never felt like I needed to stop. Keep moving.
Life Lesson Three: Pushing through tough times often leads to beautiful things, or views. Don’t give into the desire to quit.
Life Lesson Four: Sometimes making new friends happens when you least expect it. Embrace and delight in those around you everyday.
I was so scared…
Life Lesson Five: Curve-balls are common, and being mentally prepared to handle them confidently will make a world of difference. You cannot prepare for everything. Things like changes at work, or a ballsy bird trying to steal your well deserved sandwich.
Quick side note/story. That bird ^^^^ legit tried to steal my sandwich and scared me so hard I almost fell. I was in such a zone of pure bliss due to finding the peak/eating that I didn’t even see it coming.
Life Lesson Six: Perspective is everything. Change your mind, change your life. Sometimes it’s not what you see, but how you see it.
Life Lesson Seven: In the end, after fighting and climbing to the top of the hike or closing the page of a difficult chapter, you reward yourself, because you’re worth every slice of chocolate cake and tofu stir fry. You’re tougher and stronger than you first might think.
I actually ate this BEFORE the hike, because obviously cake and coffee is the right choice for fueling…
Life Lesson Eight: Never.Give.Up. Never stop exploring, and never stop growing. Fight until you reach the top, and life will find a way of sparkling and gleaming in a way you’d never expected.
Lately my days have looked like a unicorn sharted glitter all over me.
Q: How does hiking/running/swimming/anything physical (keep it PG guys) relate to life for you?
Blissfulbritt 
57 thoughts on “Mount Si – How Hiking Relates to Life”
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Gorgeous photos, as always, and legit life lessons! Well stated, my friend.
P
Beautiful pictures! That squirrel is adorable! Brave of you to get that close though 😛
Laura @ the gluten-free treadmill
Beautiful pictures and thoughts! I totally go through stages on my running – and while I don’t think it’s necessary to feel this way, I bet hiking will enhance your running fitness when you feel like getting back into it!
Brittany
I ran 5 miles yesterday like it was nothing. It was AWESOME!
pickyrunner
I freaking love this. So many great reminders and I really wish we lived closer so I had a hiking buddy because I feel like we’d have some pretty epic adventures 🙂
Megan
Great pictures Britt! I love hiking because it is a slower paced activity that forces people to just talk and enjoy the scenery. I also love that it is a way to get Sasha out of the house and us not have to be running around. It is so refreshing watching a dog take a nature walk. Makes you appreciate ALL the little things a little more. Miss you mas chica.
The Zen Kat
I absolutely love this post Britt! Hiking is one of my favorite workouts and it is totally a great way to zen out and find peace internally. When I come visit next month, let’s go on a hike! We’ll chat over email 😀
Brittany
YES!! Let’s do it, I cannot wait!
kathy@vodka and soda
HIKING IS MY JAM and will always give me a boner no matter what trail i’m on – as long as there’s huge hills, foliage and nature, i’m sporting a huge hiking boner. for real, i wish i could hike that shizz with you!!!!!! and then we can get to the top and take all the douchehole selfies all the live long day.
Brittany
I would show you my boner in our selfie shot. I think you’d be shocked.
Change of Pace
Love these life lessons in relation to hiking. I can definitely relate since that’s all my activity over the past two weekends.
Gorgeous photos!! Running will always be there, so enjoy the hiking!!
Life After Swimming
Your hiking pictures are beyond amazing. I am so stinking jealous that places like that exist near you. So pretty. And I love learning life lessons and connecting life to things you wouldn’t normally be able to.
Lauren
‘Chaos internally causes chaos externally’ — OBSESSED with this quote. So true. Love this post!
Britta
Did you know that you are the bomb dot com? Cause… you are!! I am loving all of these hikes! And man…. everything you said couldn’t be MORE true! ❤
Shawna
love this “relate hiking to life” post, and you chose such great aspects of life to discuss. totally giving me the hiking bug! gotta get myself upstate. 🙂
katalysthealth
This is such as awesome and truth filled post love ❤ Can I be your hiking buddy? I love it so much, but don't get to do it often seeing as how I live in such a big city. Hiking for me usually means walking to the Hollywood sign and looking over the city. I know, how pathetic :*(
Brittany
I have NEVER walked to the Hollywood sign!! It’s something I really want to do though! TAKE ME!
di @ life of di.
I’ve said it before but if I lived in a gorgeous state such as yours – I would totally be out hiking instead of running. It makes complete sense that that’s what you’re drifting towards right now. So very beautiful! Love it!
brickhousechick
Breathtaking! I would like to quiet my mind for a while! Great lessons, chica!
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Great photos!!! I cannot believe you got to feed that chipmunk and got a picture of it (you are like freaking Snow White). Great post!
Brittany
I laughed wayyyy too hard at that Snow White comment. I love it.
emmahume
Love this so much 🙂 great lessons!
apartmentwife
Pushing through tough times often leads to beautiful things, or views. Don’t give into the desire to quit. — love this, but, then again, i loved most of the tips. that first photo of you is gorrrgeous, but i’m also loving the one with the litte furry friend at your foot 🙂
brittanylesser
LOVE this so much! hiking is amazing. I wish I could do it more often, but Florida has NO mountains ! lol
Davida @The Healthy Maven
the chipmunk!!!! I totally agree on the new friends. I’m nuts so I legit recruit friends so more often than not they discover a new friends when they least expect it, or want it lol
kadeecramer
For me, running makes me feel like I’m stronger than I ever thought I was. I used to not even try because I just assumed I couldn’t, or wouldn’t like it. But it’s made me see that hard work will pay off, which is something I’m trying to apply to other aspects of life now.
As for hiking.. it’ just makes me feel freeeeeeeeeeee. I wish I got to do it more. ;p
Ashley
I never really think about physical activity this way, but it’s so true! I think especially for things that take us outside — there are so many lessons to be learned and so much that can be soaked up. It’s why I’m loving my walks and runs so much lately because I can get in the zone and enjoy my surroundings that much more.
Cassy
I love the peacefulness that a hike provides – there’s really nothing else like it!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Lol now I want chocolate cake!
Brittany
I always want chocolate cake…it’s a constant struggle. HAHA.
Sarah
Wow, these photos are powerful! Absolutely stunning, and such deep thoughts on life as well. Its so important to get outside and experience something ‘real’ once in a while!
Laurel Lane Crafts
Very nice!! I’ve recently gotten the hiking bug too. Can’t get the mountains out of my mind! Going to new trails is so exciting. Have a great time exploring! There are so many rocks to uncover!!
Amalia
These pictures. Where is this hike? I have to put it on my bucket list for hiking in Washington.
Also, that first picture of you on the mountain top – just gorgeous. Frame that one okay!?
Brittany
Mount Si in Northbend!! SO amazing, and there are actually multiple hikes in this area. I am going back on Friday for another! 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities
KEEP IT PG?!?!?!?!?!?!?! UHHHHH then I cannot leave a comment today, LOL!
Brittany
I should have clarified…”Keep it PG, except for Gigi she is the only one allowed to leave a rated XXX comment.”
jessielovestorun
Your thoughts are beautiful & those photos are incredible & so breathtaking.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I want to go hiking with you and absorb new life lessons.
You and me, we’re getting all chipmunky lately. He’s cute, and I’m sad to tell you I’m no longer saving them. Instead, I’m letting Max eat them. He’s actually got kidney disease and is getting worse almost daily now. He barely eats his food and has lost five pounds in the last 10 months. He doesn’t even try to get bread anymore, although he’ll still eat chipmunks, which is why I’m letting him get his fill. It’s kind of heart breaking to watch. 😦
Brittany
OH…my…..gosh. This comment just broke my heart SO hard. I am sososo sad right now about Max, you don’t even understand. NO BREAD!? I can’t even fathom this. I hope he is hanging in there, he sounds like a fighter. As long as he isn’t in pain and the chipmunks aren’t biting him, but he seems pretty scrappy so I am sure he holds his own. I am so sorry he has kidney disease. I’m going to go hug my babies right now.
karla @ finding my fit
Your posts are always my favorite–those views take me back to my trip to Colorado and have ensued some real wanderlust. The view from my desk is not the greatest =(
I needed to read this. Things have been challenging for me but I need to remember its TEMPORARY. It’s been a true testament to my strength but it’ll all be worth it.
Take me hiking with you =)
Rach @ This Italian Family
Aww cute little chipmunk!! And girl, all your hiking trails are so pretty. I love when you post pictures of these hikes. I want to come with you sometime!
Missy
This post is beautiful and the picture of you at the beginning? That is epic. When you read what you wrote and then go back up to the top… it is sort of summarizing YOU at this moment.
Brittany
Whoa. You sort of just blew my mind, and I sort of love it!!
Katherine
I always relate things like hiking/running/waking/basically anything to life, so I absolutely loved this post! I’m so glad someone else is on the same brainwave as I am! I LOVE all of your hiking pictures. They are SO gorgeous. And the advice/lessons in between were just as good 🙂
Melanie
Oh my word, that first picture of you incredible! I LOVE the cute squirrel pics too. I love running and hiking so much! My hikes aren’t nearly as adventurous as yours since I’m usually toting children along with me, but there’s something about being in the big outdoors amid beautiful surroundings that is so rejuvenating and thought provoking. I love all the life lessons you shared!
little dash of
I love the life lessons! Especially 1, 3, and 7. Lovely post! 😀
Alisha's Appetite
Brittany this is an awesome post!! Number three legitimately made me smile. It’s so, so true. Being in nature just has a way of calming my mind like nothing else. So rejuvenating!!
The Vegan 8
What a beautiful, well written post girl!! Those pics are dynamite, seriously beautiful. I was in awe of several of those views and LOVED the squirrel pic! That was so cute. I just can’t believe all these hikes you go on. You are bad ass!
Hannah
Great post! How one deals with physical exertion is so telling to how they deal with everyday life. When I’m killing it in my workouts I feel like I can conquer so much more in my life. I’ve also noticed that when I’m down in my life I suffer physically. It’s all very connected.
Amy
It’s been 95-105° here for almost a week, so hiking is definitely out of the question… I wish it wasn’t; your photos and scenery look absolutely breathtaking! But in the meantime, I’m super stoked to finally get back to running pain-free. My legs weren’t exactly happy about having 3 months off, but my mind is so happy to just wander during my runs. Pure bliss! 😉
Heather @ HeatherRunsFast.com
Gahh! I wish I had beautiful hiking to distract me from not running… although some of that hike is still prob to much “effort” for me, but still! And I can’t believe that squirrel- holy smokes! How awesome. You are now one with nature FO Real!
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
I would so rather hike than run. haha I’m coming with you on your next one! 😛
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Cryptologica
I think it was two summers ago I hiked Mt. Olympus? It’s about 4 miles to the top with an elevation gain of 4,000ft. The peak is at like 9,000ft. Extreme heat, sunburns, snow, deep brush, steep inclines, half mile scramble? You got it! As you know, I’m a fat cow but I did it! I can relate to many of these life lessons haha Literally, I could barely walk for a week, I was so so incredibly sore. I think I’d like to work up to that next time but it was an interesting experience to say the least. I wish I got to feed animals, that did not happen nooo :O So cute!
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