April 10 2016
When I came across the attached article, I was joyous to find confirmation of something I've always known but never seen validated, hiking actually changes our brains!
When I was doing mountain hiking tours in Hawaii, it became almost immediately obvious to me that things were going on not only inside myself, which I had always experienced, but that they were going on inside the heads of those who were along for the tour as well.
The article pin points the changes under the headings of: Stopping obsessive negative thoughts, Boosting creative thought processes, Improving ADHD in children, and Increasing brain power through exercise.
I don't know at what time in my life it was that I started actually seeking out hiking. My dad would occasionally take me hiking when I was a child but I don't recall being that enthused by it. I believe it was when i as a single mom was always looking for free or inexpensive ways to spend fun and educational time with my children. There are so many places one might find to go on a hike whether backwoods trekking or a trip through a state park and the event is always diverse and memorable.
The peak of my love for hiking started when I began doing eco-tours in Hawaii. Some days I would hike up a mountain as many as a half a dozen times. (I wish I could do that now!) Besides the tours Hawaii also offers so many places to gear up and head out to and I did that regularly as well. For several years I just couldn't get enough of the adventure or of the positive bonuses that come along with it like improved health through exercise and as I can now confirm, boosts to my brain.
So with summer ahead, I thought this article came at a perfect time to remind me to get out there and hike even with this bummed ankle I have at the moment. I can still do what ever amount that is comfortable. Maybe it will inspire you too, once you learn how much it changes your brain. (FOR THE BETTER!)
Copyright 2016 Wanda Hope Carter all rights not otherwise assigned are reserved, no downloading, copy pasting, framing, printing, archiving or other use without express written permission.
So the only hiking I'm open to is on the interstate and that's illegal.
C...