When Ray first came up with the Basin Pond Challenge, I was a little hesitant to commit. “That’s a lot to ask of people,” I said. This was back in January, in the land of New Year’s Resolutions. I’m not keen on New Year’s Resolutions or Lent, so I signed on to my own declaration of “healthy habits”. “That way I won’t have to give up anything.” Nevertheless, he persisted. The Basin Pond Challenge is simply this:
*an hour outside every day
*visit a new outside place once a week
*see a sunrise or moonrise once a month
As it turns out, I’ve pretty much done it. I just found a new place when I was walking in the woods. I can show you a picture of a sunset the other day.
The first few days I found myself walking on the Promenade in Portland. New Place. Check. Moonrise. Check.
The best part is the hour outside each day. The reason Ray came up with the challenge in the first place was to challenge himself. After a long day of work and a raw walk from the car to the house, it’s easy to think it’s too cold to do anything in January. Not true. You just gotta change your clothes, which is a warm-up in itself, and get going out the door. You know the saying, There’s no bad weather, just bad gear. There’s a whole big world out there on our little pond: skate skiing and ice biking, ice fishing, all those fun activities that keep us loving winter in Maine. This year we discovered the bogs in Jackson for x country expeditions. PIC
So I found myself going outside more. And feeling good. A couple hours a day for me feeds the soul. A lot of the research about lifelong health and productivity points to being outside and engaging with nature. That is true for me. As a result, I’ve dropped a few pounds and am more in shape for whitewater season. We started Instagram accounts to share our pics and adventures and encourage others to do the challenge too.
This is a great time for us all to get outside, away from people, taking the time we never could to be with ourselves and our loved ones. Taking the time to check out some path or trail near your house. Taking the time to watch the sunset. Tag your pictures with #basinpondchallenge! I know you’re out there!
Afterword and Disclaimer: Governor Mills issued her stay at home order to Maine residents yesterday. This makes checking out new places difficult. She also makes clear that people may leave their homes to get exercise, to fish, run, hike or bike. Exercise and getting outside is even more important for us mentally and physically in these stressful times. Let’s stay healthy!
Check out our Instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/basinpondchallenge/
https://www.instagram.com/leslieagregory/ https://www.instagram.com/raywirth.maineguide/