I need to find the time

As I have been trying to stay on target with my goals for this hlw class I find myself not having the time to connect with nature and chill.  I tell myself "oh i'll just be spiritual tomorrow; I have way too much to do today that takes priority" and I don't normally get around to it.  I wish I could just let go of my school constraints for just 30 minutes at least without counting down the thirty minutes until I can finish getting things done.  Sometimes that's why I find it so easy to go to yoga class, because it is time I scheduled myself to set aside school work and do relaxing stretches and techniques.  I feel like its ok to not be doing anything 'productive' because I have this hour-long class penciled in already.

I want to change this attitude and be able to relax myself and take a walk or read a book outside, so I can continue to reach my ultimate goal of connecting with and appreciating my surroundings.

Thankfully I have my best firend Whitney to keep me on track, whether its going to the beach and walking around at midnight or sitting with me while we search for Orion's belt or that pesky big dipper that I can never ever find.  Man I love my bestie :)

star-gazing while being stalked from behind by whit

The ever-stylin' Whitney

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Total connection to nature on one of our beach runs

Sign My Cast!

Hey guys sorry for the delay in posts!
Anyways, in my effort to connect with the environment this past weekend I took a ski trip to Wintergreen Resort in VA with my stepmom [Cole] and brother [Luke]. Snowboarding has been calling my name ever since I started skiing when I was 10. So when Cole called me and told me that we were going, I was thrilled to finally start being "one of those cool people who snowboards."

I was basically pro by the end of my lesson on Saturday... a pro beginner that is. I was owning those bunny slopes. I got up Sunday thinking, "Heck yeah, Im so cool! I can snowboard!" Little did I know, the resort couldnt make new snow that night, and what was left from the previous day had hardened over. I literally put on my snowboarding gear, strapped up outside the rental lodge, and next thing you know Im cradling my broken wrist in my hand, face first in the snow. After people realized, "oh snap, theres a girl lying there in the snow" the ski patrol came down and whisked me away in their wooden basket. From the uncomfortable wooden basket, I spent the next hour and a half in the ski recovery room waiting for the patrol guys to find my family on the ski slopes. Once they found my stepmom they splinted my arm up and we drove 50 miles to the nearest hospital. After that everything consisted of alot of pain and waiting in hospitals (I was told that I had a fracture on my radial bone).

With all this time sitting around, I had alot of time to debate about whethere it was worth it coming out this weekend only to end up with a broken wrist. Then I remember standing on the top of the slopes, on top of the mountain, feeling literally on top of the world. And I remember the rush of starting down the slope. And how awesome it felt to just sit there after falling and let my breath come back while I tookin the beauty of the scenery around me. I was in no hurry to get up, just enjoying the whole experience!

So if you ask me, it was worth it. Plus I have this cool pink cast, and a great story to go along with my first broken bone!

My Goal

Hi I'm Molly Baker.  For my High Level Wellness class we are supposed to be working on goals for the semester.  I think I want my outcome goal to be for me to become more aware and appreciative of my surrounding environment and the beauty that can be found in nature, as well as creating a peaceful environment for me to grow as a person.  Two behavioral goals that I am going to commit to in order to achieve my longterm goal are to

1) spend at least an hour in quiet meditation somewhere (ie. beach, wildflower reserve, in the sun on a patch of grass) at least twice a week and
2) take pictures and journal about what I see twice a week as well, so I can look back on my experiences and relive the peace I felt, as well as share it with my friends.

I can't wait to get started and see what this journey has in store for me!

Wrightsville Beach, NC