Yesterday, my head was out of commission. I couldn’t get my brain to cooperate with my mouth. Delayed speaking. Messy phrases. 

Ever had a day like that?

The worst part was, my day never had a chance. That’s just the way I woke up.

Something had to change. I didn’t like struggling to put my thoughts together. Talking, laughing, that’s what I wanted. 

At lunch, I drove home like usual. A flash of trees whizzed by me.  I thought how nice it would be to feel the sunshine on my face. Even the birds were chirping from the tree tops. I veered the car to the left, to the trees, and I pulled up to a nature center not far from my house. It was a perfect thought, feeling the need to be one with nature, so I went with it.

I stayed in my car for a minute or so, watching people power walking and running along the trails. Finally I got out of my car. I slammed the door and I started walking toward the woods. A really great tree spanned out high above my head. I stared up the trunk and a memory floated to the front of my mind. Secret Detective Erika. 8-years-old. Dressed in my dad’s best khaki sports coat and hiding from anything I could see. Neighbors. Traffic. A couple of crazy squirrels. I hid in the bushes, behind a trash can, and I rolled across the yard to climb the nearest tree.  The breeze tickled my cheeks. I forgot about everything. I reclined in that tree and I dreamed.

So that’s exactly what I did on my lunch break yesterday. Yes, I climbed a tree. I’ve got pictures! Take a look.

After a few calming minutes in that tree I realized switching my environment cured my head. I could breathe. I could think. I went back to the office skipping through the front door. People laughed at me, but oh well. Maybe my skipping shook up their day a little too.

When life feels a little heavy, remember the fun things. Open a window, let the breeze tickle your face. Light a candle and smell the delicious aroma sneaking up your nose. Music works too. Pick something fun you haven’t heard in a really long time. Sing.

These are a few of my favorite things. They work for me. What’s your favorite thing?