6 min read
You ever sit in the house so long that you start feeling like the walls are closing in on you?
And I don't mean being home for a lazy Saturday, watching movies, eating snacks, and enjoying absolutely nothing on your schedule. Because listen, I love those days too!
I'm talking about being in the house so much that the days start running together. You don't know what day it is, you're tired of looking at the same four walls, and somehow you're exhausted even though you haven't really gone anywhere.
That was me during COVID.
Like everybody else, I was trying to adjust to a world that suddenly looked completely different. Everything was shutting down, routines were changing, and there was so much uncertainty about what was happening and what would happen next.
At first, being home didn't seem so bad. But after a while, it started taking a toll on me.
I wasn't feeling like myself.
I eventually realized I was experiencing depression. And the thing about depression is that it doesn't always look the way people expect it to. Sometimes you're still getting up, taking care of your children, handling responsibilities, and doing what needs to be done.
But inside, something just feels off.
I knew I needed a change of scenery.
One Day, I Just Got Up
I wish I could tell you I had this amazing moment of clarity where I decided to transform my life through hiking.
Definitely did not happen that way.
I was just tired of being in the house!
One day, I rounded up my kids, grabbed our dog Summer, and decided we were going to the park.
That was the whole plan.
No hiking boots. No special backpack. No fancy water bottle that costs $40 and promises to keep your water cold until next Christmas.
Just me, my kids, Summer, and some fresh air.
And you know what?
It felt good.
Really good.
We walked around, enjoyed being outside, and for a little while, I wasn't thinking about everything that had been weighing on me.
I was just enjoying the moment.
The kids were outside. Summer was getting her exercise. And I was finally doing something other than sitting in the house thinking about how tired I was of sitting in the house.
Sometimes it's the simplest things.
And Then We Kept Going
Here's the funny part.
That first trip wasn't supposed to become anything.
It was just a day at the park.
But we enjoyed it so much that we went again.
Then we found another park.
Then another trail.
Before I knew it, we were hiking!
And I started looking forward to it.
I loved discovering new places, seeing beautiful trees, hearing water flowing nearby, and realizing how much beauty was right outside my own neighborhood.
It became something we could do together as a family, but it also became something I needed for myself.
Because somewhere along those trails, I started finding a little peace.
The Problems Were Still There, Though!
Now, let me be clear about something.
Taking a walk did not magically fix my life.
When I got back home, the laundry was still there. The bills were still there. The responsibilities were still waiting for me.
And whatever was stressing me out before I left hadn't necessarily disappeared.
But something about stepping away for a little while helped me feel better equipped to deal with it.
I could breathe.
I could think.
Or, even better, I could stop thinking about everything for a minute.
And sometimes that's exactly what we need.
We spend so much of our lives taking care of people, meeting deadlines, answering phones, solving problems, and making sure everything gets done.
Especially as mothers, it's easy to put ourselves at the bottom of the list.
Everybody needs something.
And before you know it, you've gone an entire day without doing one thing just because it makes you happy.
Those walks reminded me that I needed moments for myself, too.
Finding God Between the Trees
One of the things I've always loved about being outdoors is how connected I feel to God through nature.
There's something about standing beneath a huge tree, listening to water move over rocks, or watching sunlight shine through the leaves that makes me stop and appreciate His creation.
Sometimes I pray while I'm walking.
Sometimes I thank God for bringing me through things I never thought I'd get through.
And sometimes I don't say anything at all.
I just look around.
Because honestly, some views will leave you speechless.
During a time when the world felt so uncertain, those moments outdoors gave me something peaceful to hold on to.
Looking back, I believe God was leading me toward something I didn't even know I needed.
Not some huge, dramatic change.
Just a reminder to slow down, get outside, and appreciate the life happening around me.
You Don't Have to Be a Hiker
Here's something I want people to understand.
You don't have to call yourself a hiker to enjoy being outside.
You don't need to climb mountains, walk ten miles, or buy a whole new wardrobe.
You can start at the park down the street.
Walk around your neighborhood.
Sit beside some water.
Find a bench under a tree and enjoy the breeze.
And please don't feel like you have to turn every walk into a workout.
Sometimes we're so focused on getting our steps in, burning calories, or reaching some fitness goal that we forget it's okay to just enjoy ourselves.
You can walk slowly.
You can stop and take pictures.
You can sit down halfway through because you saw a beautiful view.
You can even decide you're going home after ten minutes!
It's your walk.
The point isn't how far you go.
It's giving yourself permission to go.
Sometimes You Just Need to Get Out of Your Own Head
I think we underestimate how much time we spend in our own heads.
Thinking about what happened yesterday.
Worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow.
Replaying conversations.
Making mental to-do lists.
Wondering if we're doing enough, giving enough, being enough.
And sometimes we need a break from all that noise.
Not because our problems aren't important.
But because we are important, too.
Getting outside doesn't replace the support or treatment someone may need when they're struggling with depression. But for me, walking became one way to care for myself and make room for moments of peace.
It gave me something to look forward to.
Something that didn't require me to be responsible for everybody and everything.
And eventually, that little decision to take the kids and Summer to the park became part of a much bigger journey.
A journey that would lead me to create Unfiltered Footsteps.
Who would've thought?
Certainly not me!
So Here's My Question for You
When was the last time you did something simply because it made you feel good?
Not because you had to.
Not because somebody needed you to.
Not because it was productive.
Just because you wanted to.
If you can't remember, maybe it's time to change that.
And I'm not telling you to ignore your responsibilities, quit your job, or run off into the woods and become one with the squirrels.
Although, depending on the week, I understand the temptation!
I'm simply encouraging you to make a little room for yourself.
Go outside.
Feel the sun on your face.
Listen to the birds.
Watch the trees move in the wind.
Take a moment to thank God for another day.
And if all you can manage is ten minutes, let that be enough.
Because sometimes the thing we need isn't another plan, another obligation, or another person telling us what we should be doing.
Sometimes you just need to take a walk.
And you never know where that first step might lead.
🌿 Today's Little Footstep
Here's a challenge for you.
Sometime this week, take a 15-minute walk without looking at your phone. Keep it with you for safety if you need it, but resist the urge to scroll, text, or check notifications.
While you're walking, notice five things around you.
Maybe it's a tree you've passed a hundred times but never really looked at.
Maybe it's the sound of birds, the color of the sky, or the way the breeze feels against your face.
And when you're finished, ask yourself:
"How did I feel before my walk, and how do I feel now?"
You don't have to write an essay about it. Just take a moment to notice.
Sometimes the smallest steps make the biggest difference.
Every Step Has a Story.
My Footsteps. Your Footsteps. Walking Together.
— Unfiltered Footsteps
My Footsteps. Your Footsteps. Walking Together.