Summer is often a time when we are busy and feel like we should be out doing things. Enjoying life and making the most of things. It is also a time of year when the weather is nice, so it is great for just rest and relaxation. Go outside and relaxe in the sun or sit and enjoy reading a book with the windows open.

There are just so many options. It often feels like there are limitless opportunities to do things. And this year I have been feeling like we have somehow simultaneously been very busy, but also not doing enough. Like there are so many other things that I could also be doing. Sometimes I am feeling tired and worn out mentally and or physically from being so busy but then my brain is telling me to just keep pushing through it and go do the next thing too because there is so much to do and so little time to do it in.

And at the same time that I feel like I am simultaneously doing too much and not enough I also feel like I should take time to relax and enjoy the little things. Rest. Let my body recharge. Just take a day and do nothing. Those small quiet times are important too and they let us recharge and have more energy for other things.

I am not very good at resting and relaxing. I tend to like to be actively doing something. My brain tends to be only good with rest after a big adventure or a workout. Like I have to DO SOMETHING to earn my rest and relaxation. But I don’t think that how it should be and that’s not how I want to think and feel about it.

I tried to combine the doing things and the restfulness together. One thing I often feel I neglect in all the business and doing things is time with our dogs. Especiually time with River, because of her high energy Border Collieness, she does need some stimulationa and activity so that she can lead her best life. I often feel like I don’t give her enough of that.

On this trip I wanted to make it all about her. We went to Watkins Glen State Park for a hike. Often when I go for a hike I have a goal in mind of how far or how fast I want to go. The hike is often more for me and I am taking River so she can get some ecercise too. But this trip was for her. Or it was for us both.

We hiked essentially the Finger Lakes Trail that passes through Watkins Glen State Park out to the Punch Bowl area and then back. But there was no plan. That is just where it felt right to turn around. We went a very slow and comfortable speed. We went so slow taht even though it was relatively cool for summer I did not even break a sweat. And if you know me it does not take much for me to start sweating.

Allowed River to guide us on this hike. If she wanted to stop and smell somethign we did. If she slowly meandered in an area searchinbg for something we took it nice and slow. And she seemed ok with this slow pace too, which somethimes she does not. Sometimes I take her for a walk and it is like we are racewalking.

We had a very relaxing hike enjoyng nature and I took pohotos of the woodlands around us and of course of River. She is so photogrenic.

After our hike we went back to the main entrance area and found a relatively secluded area with a picnic table to rest. I spread out our picnic blanket. I ate lunch. And we just relaxed. I eventually laid down on the picnic blanket with River. We rested. We were calm. At peace. Under the trees in nature. And we slept.

I think the biggest problem is that there really is just about an infinite number of things that we could do every day. And thge only way to feel fulfilled is to do those things that are most importanbt to us. Thiose things that really help us feel like we are being the most us we can be. WE have to choose what we want out of lif eand be ok with not getting to do EVERYTHING. And that is hard. Not doing things means we are missing out on something and yeah maybe it would be fun but what are we giving up in order to fit all that in and is the trade off worth it.

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