It's a Beautiful Day
Relatively speaking, the weather today was AMAZING. 50+ degrees in January is always welcome in my book. However, there was one major issue that made this bittersweet; it was a workday. So, as the temperature peaked, I was stuck at my desk. I had decided that wasn't going to stop me from enjoying a least a little bit of the day. Therefore, as soon as I was finished with work, I was heading out of town as quickly as possible.
James A. Reed Wildlife Area is my go-to spot to get outdoors when time is limited. While it may not be the greatest hiking location, the fact that it is only five minutes from the last stoplight makes it perfect for these situations. Also, it also seems pretty easy to find some solitude there on weekday afternoons.
Today definitely did not provide the perfect conditions. The lakes were still mostly frozen over, the trails were muddy, and I definitely had inappropriate footwear. However, none of that mattered. I could almost feel my blood pressure dropping as the cool breeze hit my face and I listened to the geese flying overhead. All of life's concerns seemed nonexistent for that brief walk. It is strange how we can have a tendency to prioritize our hectic lives over the things that we love doing. Coincidentally, I'm wearing my "Hiking; It's Cheaper than Therapy" shirt today. I think there is so much truth in that comparison and I definitely need to take advantage of that more often.
...it's supposed to be in the 60's tomorrow!