I am not an outdoorsy person. Never have been. If you ask my friends, they’ll tell you that I think I’m being outdoorsy when I’m drinking a glass of wine on a patio.
But recently, I’ve been wondering if that’s what’s best for me now. Or if “I’m not outdoorsy” has become something I say without giving it much thought.
I never really questioned it when I was younger. But maybe it’s time to make an effort to be outside more often.
I’ve worked from home since 2008. I’m comfortable with it and have no interest in changing that. And if I’m honest, there are days I don’t get outside at all. (I know, I know….)
But as I think about putting myself and my well-being first, I’m rethinking a few things. Spending my entire day inside is one of them.
Just because something worked for me in the past doesn’t mean it’s serving me now.
When What Once Worked No Longer Serves You
And sometimes, life changes before we’ve even had a chance to consider what we want.
A career ends. The kids leave home. A relationship changes. What used to be normal no longer looks or feels the same, and you’re trying to figure out where you fit in amongst it all.
You may miss the familiar, even while wondering what else might be possible.
That’s where the idea of Beyond by Emerge Positive comes in for me. What do you want your life to look like beyond the role, the routine, or the expectations you’ve lived with for so long?
That can feel like a big question, especially when you’re still adjusting to what’s changed. So maybe you begin with something smaller: What would feel good to have a little more of in your life right now?
More connection? More time to yourself? Something to look forward to that’s just yours?
You don’t need a picture of your whole future to begin. You can try one thing and pay attention to how it feels.
That’s what I want to explore with you this November as we focus on discovering what we want. Whether you’re choosing to make a change or finding your way through one you didn’t choose, there’s room to consider what matters to you today.
For me, “I’m not outdoorsy” has been a familiar answer for years. But I want to feel good and take care of myself. And I’m realizing that I may need to be a little more open to doing things differently to support what’s important to me today.
I’m certainly not announcing a camping trip. Let’s not get carried away.
But I can take a walk. I can step outside during the workday. I can give myself the chance to find out whether a little more time outdoors makes a difference in how I feel.
Can you relate?
Is there something you’ve been doing for years that no longer serves the you of today? Maybe it’s a habit, a commitment, or even something you’ve always said about yourself.
This week, pick one and give it a closer look. Does it still work for you? If it’s been draining you, does a little rest help? Or is there something you’d like to do differently?
You don’t have to overhaul your life to put yourself first. Sometimes it starts with reconsidering one small thing you thought you’d already decided.
For me, that means getting outside a little more often.
And yes, the patio still counts.
Deanne
P.S. On Wednesday’s podcast: Have You Outgrown Something—or Do You Just Need a Break? We’ll explore how to give yourself room to figure that out.
