Grandma Gatewood. She walked up and down the Appalachian Trail. Several times, so many years ago. She’s inspirational. Her plain approach to life spoke more than a books pages can tell.

In an age of seeking fear, drama, recognition, comparing toughness and competitive experiences I liked her desire to just “be”.

To “be” in the woods and wildness, a part of the greater wilderness. Knowing I am part of the beauty of the wilderness. Not more or less and not in competition with it. Just being.

“Being” is hard at the moment. Overwhelming news, chatter, pictures of the virus. I’m stepping up my “turn it off” so I can work at being. Looking at a bird getting a meal in the yard. That’s the birds greatest adventure. I too will be focusing on the smaller things, food, looking around outside, observing my safety  – just like the bird. Find that small joy in your current moment. It’s there, just like Grandma Gatewood found and that bird. It’s in the moment.

I’m still tracking my adventures. Now they are small and local. As a verb an adventure is “to engage in hazardous and exciting activity, especially the exploration of unknown territory.” And that is where I am. Unknown territory of a pandemic. But I’m finding my way out of the woods to a peaceful path that is not what I expected. Here is where I will document this very different adventure by the week.