Rae La Soul

A 10-hour drive led us to Pigeon Forge, TN for a week. A week spent in the mountains enjoying 10U baseball tournaments and most importantly, family. It was my first time visiting the Smoky Mountain Range and it was everything I thought it would be. Majestic. Vast. Ethereal. A beautiful reminder that I need more of this.

It took a little bit out of me when we had to load up the vehicle and head back home. Because I couldn’t think of a place back home where I could briskly walk with such a deep incline that set my glutes, quads, and hammies on fire that would be so close by. And I wondered if the rain showers would ever be as peaceful as they are back home. It’s hard to truly enjoy the rain now since flooding and it saddens me a bit. Rain showers in the mountains are top-tier.

Since being back home, I’ve decided to incorporate spending more time outdoors. I have a gym routine set, but being outdoors and walking on a trail versus a treadmill was elevating. And now, I have an idea as to why. I need to find the sweet spot on when to incorporate an outdoor routine. Right now, it seems like that sweet spot may be while my son attends summer workouts since I’m not an early riser and my gym routine starts in the evening. That also includes more family outings, even including volleyball and baseball games. Ultimately, just moving and breathing in some fresh air.