Do you ever feel like you need medicine for your soul?
There is nothing in this world that rejuvenates me like getting outdoors! My wife and I had the chance this past weekend to get away for three days so we took a little trip to the Fort Smith, Arkansas area.
We chose this area because a few years ago I went on a backpacking trip with a couple of buddies in the Ozark National Forest. It was absolutely gorgeous and I wanted to show my wife. I was very glad we went!
Today, I thought I’d share some of the pictures from our trip. Just looking at them stirs my passion for getting outside and enjoying all the beauty nature has to offer. I hope they encourage you to plan your own outdoor adventure!
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”
~ John Muir
There is absolutely nothing in this world that washes my soul clean like spending time in the great outdoors! It doesn’t matter whether it is hiking, camping, scuba diving, backpacking, mountain biking, or kayaking. I love it all! The closer I am to Nature’s heart, the better. For me, this is definitely part of living life to its fullest!
The forest and stream in the photo above looks like a backdrop used in a photo studio, but I swear it is real! This is exactly the way the picture came out of our digital camera. All I could say along the way to my wife was, “Wow! Look at that! Isn’t it just gorgeous?” She probably got tired of hearing me repeat the same thing over and over!
There is something about beautiful natural scenery that rejuvenates and feeds my soul like nothing else in this world. I feel the most alive when I’m drinking in all that nature has to offer. Being outdoors is the most inspiring place for me to be.
Everything was just so green and lush! I loved the size of these boulders along the trail. The moss that covered them just added to their beauty. There were just so many amazing and awesome sights to behold. I always wonder, “How did that get there?”
This waterfall was the ultimate destination for our hike. Isn’t it gorgeous? 
It was about three miles back in the woods. Nearby is a primitive campground where my buddies and I camped on my previous trip. The water is cold, but this pool makes a great swimming hole. Ready to dive in with me?
What washes your soul clean? Leave a comment below and let me know!
I love following this blog, and this is a great post. Living in a concrete jungle does seem to eat away at your soul, and getting back to nature is very rejuvenating.
One thing wrong with these pictures.. that hat. Might we be able to get you something better, maybe something that comes in Crimson and Cream?
I’m right there with you… nature makes me feel whole again, especially when there is a stream, river or waterfall involved! Now, if I could just get that feeling to last longer when I made it back to the metropolis…
Read ann elise´s latest article – need a good laugh? read these…
@Andrew – Ha! Crimson and Cream? Never! Go Pokes! LOL
@Ann Elise – I love streams and waterfalls! Hikes into the woods with these as the destination are always my favorites. When you figure out how to get the feelings to last once you get back to the city, please let me know.
Thanks for reading and thanks for the comments!
I enjoy your posts and have had you on my reader for sometime. In your situation, my fingers would be itching for brushes and paints. Looks like a painting begging to happen. A picture of said wife would have been nice.
Great post! I agree completely on staying connected w/ Nature. Nothing compares …
Looks like a great time. The wife and I recently took a camping trip to the Crater Lake area. It was definitely a rejuvenating time.
What a great idea – hiking as a way to connect with nature! Sounds like you’d love “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson, which is all about his experiences hiking the Appalachian trail, with some history of national parks mixed in. It’s hilarious, and also a great insight into our connection with nature through hiking. I’ve been hiking on the Appalachian trail, and it’s quite a feat – I plan to hike the whole thing, from Georgia to Maine.