Spring means getting OUTSIDE, because plants aren't the only things that need sunlight & fresh air

As I was browsing the ol’ Instagram this morning, I came across this post, and naturally, it resonates with me (I mean this whole blog is based on the notion of finding your roots and blooming, right).

You see, last weekend was one of the finest weekends weather-wise that us Mainahs have had in what seems like 473 years. We’ve been in such a dark place/season for months now, and sometimes that’s made it hard to remember that things WILL get better. No, the days might not be full of sunshine and mild temperatures, but they are getting longer, and with more daylight, even if we can’t always see it thanks to the clouds or rain, that means more vitamin D for all of us who suffer from a touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder (myself included), or cabin fever, or any one of the numerous viruses that are circulating AGAIN, because no one can get outside and escape the germs. It was so nice to see the sunshine and feel warm air instead of that brisk air that hangs around and stings your face a little bit. I know in the Johnson household, time outside is time well spent and pretty much a necessity. As living beings we still need time to recharge, and soak up the sun and just be with nature in order to grow (we’re still a lot like plants, just with phones in our hands). When we reconnect with what gives us life, we restore so much more than we realize. Sure, we “recharge our batteries” (since we’ve evolved to be so complex and technologically advanced) every night with sleep, but there’s something to be said about getting outside in an environment that stimulates our sense, nourishes that part of our being that deems sunshine and fresh air as essential and reanimates our soul.

I’d seen this trail a few times on some social media posts and in an article naming local walking trails that are appropriate length/skill-wise for younger children, and so my husband and I planned to check it out. Weekends for us are usually packed full of dance classes, volunteering, working on our addition, cleaning, or working, all of which pulling us in different directions and when my husband’s outside working, I’m usually the one in the house attempting to at least make it not look like we’re curating our own zoo, so it was just nice to be able to carve out some time as a family to do something together outside and away from the house and rat race. As soon as we’d started out on the trail, camera in hand, I felt that rush, that elated feeling that you can feel through all of your senses. And seeing the trees look bright and green, hearing the birds chirp in the distance, smelling the dirt that’d been turned up by all of the foot traffic from fellow patrons that wanted to experience that particular part of nature, feeling the warm air without that winter bitterness, and just being able to take it all in and “drink it up” so to speak. Okay, that last line was just my mere attempt to tie in the sense of taste since we obviously weren’t going around drinking all of the bog water or licking the tree bark… Blair might have gotten a handful of dirt though.

I digress.

The trail was right at the end of the parking area, and while waiting for everyone to get situated I read on the plaque that the Heath Preserve is a 1,223 acre woodland and bog preserve with a 1 mile trail to the woodlands where you can do the Loop Trail, and take the long way, or turn around and walk back out to the trail head. The entire trail from one end to another is just over 2 miles. The redesigned boardwalk features planks that

are better designed to withstand elemental distress, but also are also a visual delight and their multi-colored planks add some visual whimsy and they can get a little windy, but it just adds to the sense of adventure. The trail/boardwalk itself is nice and flat, and definitely kid-friendly. My daughter spent most of the time running it. I’d say that it’s also stroller/wheelchair friendly, based on the terrain, but it’s not very wide, so you’d have to make sure you can maneuver to the side in the event of any oncoming foot traffic. The scenery was just awe-inspiring. I personally thrive and feel the most reconnected and revived in the woodland/mountainous settings as opposed to the beach or lake. As an earth sign, that’s definitely common. The woodland portion was so serene, and with the added character of the boardwalk it made for some great photos and definitely brought out that sense of adventuring through the Maine woods! When we reached the bog portion, it almost seemed to take you to somewhere else entirely. The trees were spectacular, and not the typical Maine pine. Now, I’m not an arborist, nor a tree expert, so I’m not sure what species they were, but they reminded me of some in a desert, paired with the reeds and other foliage of the swamp, we definitely did NOT feel like we were in Maine.

Stopping to appreciate the grandeur

My oldest daughter skipped along the boardwalk and was just full of pure inquisition, wonder and amazement that I couldn’t help but just smile when I watched her. She barely sat still for photos, but that’s fine. This was one of those days where you could just feel happiness radiating, and it’s felt like SO long since any of us have felt that. The fresh air must have done my youngest daughter some good, because well, she fell asleep in the carrier and missed out on a lot of photo ops! But looking back through the photos and editing some, I can see that sense of wonder on my daughter’s face, that fearlessness and bright disposition she has, and can see how happy she was at every single moment, which brings me back to the quote I saw scrolling…

“When you’re in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you’ve been buried. Perhaps you’ve been planted. Bloom.”

And this, this is what life is all about. It’s about coming out of dark period (read: Maine Winter) and thinking you’ll never see the light of day (read: Maine Spring), but somehow finding that in those dark times where you’ve felt buried, suffocated and constantly being pushed back down, you’re growing solid roots, that, with light, nourishment and some sunshine, will shoot you through what’s been holding you down, and you’ll bloom into something so spectacular that you just radiate beauty, positivity and leave people in awe. That sense of coming out of a dark place/hibernation/depression/germ-filled homes and into the light, is something I live for in the Spring, and seeing everything come back to life is invigorating to me. If trees and flowers can live through the Winter and the cold, dark times, so can’t we! As a mother and wife, knowing that better times are ahead is a notion I have to remind myself of daily. Sure, these times are hard, but they won’t last forever, just as the seasons actually DO change, and that no matter how much of a dark time you think you’re in, you do get out, and you do get to explore and feel that sense of wanderlust, following your heart to the woods (or beach, or river, lake, city, dock… whatever tickles your fancy), and the happiness that comes from being in your element.

To feel that sense of adventure, warmth on my skin, to smell that fresh air, and be with loved ones seeing a sparkle in their eye was just what my soul needed, and I’m so happy we found someplace locally that allows us the ability to have these little adventures. We all need to feel safe and grounded, but also do some things that just feel good for our souls, and being in nature is one of them for the Johnson fam. I’d 100% recommend the Saco Heath Preserve as a little ½ day trip, and you can even drive a little further and go to the Way Way Store (a local favorite and historical landmark) for some sweet treats!

We had to stop at a local favorite, the Way Way Store, in Saco, Maine!