The Simple Things That Get Us Outside

For a long time, I thought the best way to feel refreshed was to go somewhere.

Give me a beautiful beach, a new destination, and a few days away from the usual routine, and I’m happy.

I still love that.

But I’ve also realized I don’t have to get on a plane every time I need a little change of scenery.

A lot of the time, I can just walk out the back door.

For us, outdoor living isn’t complicated. It’s coffee on the porch, walks with Bentley, working in the garden, or sitting outside at the end of the day.

Here’s what gets us outside most often.

Morning Coffee on the Porch

Most mornings start with coffee on the porch.

Thankfully, living in Georgia means we can do this much of the year, although there are definitely a few summer mornings when it’s already too hot to be enjoyable.

Some days I sit outside for fifteen minutes. Some days it’s five.

I leave my phone inside, drink my coffee, and sit for a bit before the day gets going.

Sometimes I read. Sometimes I watch the birds. Sometimes I do absolutely nothing.

And that’s probably my favorite part.

Slow Walks With Bentley

Another easy way we get outside is walking or playing fetch with Bentley, our golden retriever who is equal parts sweet and ridiculous.

Our walks are not exactly power walks.

Bentley has places to go, things to smell, squirrels to investigate, and apparently a whole country road to inspect.

So we walk slowly.

I’ve learned to stop fighting it and just enjoy the walk.

We live on a country road, so there’s usually something to see. Deer along the road, our neighbors’ horse and foal, the lake, birds… and usually something else I would have completely missed if I were focused only on getting my steps in and getting home.

Sitting Outside With No Real Agenda

This may be my favorite because it requires absolutely nothing.

Sometimes I’ll go outside in the late afternoon or evening, sit down, and stay for a while.

Sometimes I’m thinking about the grocery list or the five things I need to do the next day. Sometimes I’m enjoying a glass of wine with Shawn. And sometimes, I’m able to just sit still.

I don’t think every minute outside has to be productive or even particularly meaningful.

It’s just nice to be outside.

The Garden

The garden gets me outside almost every day.

I like walking through the yard to see what’s blooming, checking on what’s growing, seeing what I’ve managed to kill, and figuring out what the deer have eaten.

And, of course, cutting a few flowers to bring inside.

There is something I really love about walking into the kitchen and seeing flowers on the table that came from our own backyard.

Making Our Outdoor Spaces Places We Actually Use

Our outdoor spaces aren’t perfect, and they certainly aren’t finished.

That’s okay.

I don’t need the porch to look like a magazine spread, and the garden will probably never be completely finished because, well… it’s me.

But one can hope, right?

All jokes aside, what matters to me is that we actually use these spaces.

We have comfortable places to sit. We eat outside when the weather is good. We have friends over. We sit on the porch in the evenings. We watch the sunset from the lake.

Those are the things that make our outdoor spaces special to me.

You Don’t Have to Go Far

I still love travel. That isn’t changing anytime soon.

There is nothing quite like seeing a new place, exploring somewhere you’ve never been, or spending a few days away from your normal routine.

But I’ve also come to appreciate how much I enjoy the outdoor spaces we already have.

Sometimes it’s coffee on the porch.

Sometimes it’s a slow walk with Bentley.

Sometimes it’s exploring the garden.

Sometimes it’s sitting on the boat at the end of the day, watching the sunset.

None of it is complicated.

And honestly, I like that.

Sometimes the best way to get a little fresh air and a change of pace is to simply walk out the door.