A Camping Checklist

There are very few places in this world where I feel completely at peace; and I mean undoubtedly, absolutely, and unequivocally at peace. Camping is one of those places. Something about the experience affects me in a way that I cannot properly convey. It gives me an appreciation for the things that I have, the people I am with, the places I am in, and the life I am so lucky to be living. Camping can mean any number of things to any number of people. What follows below are my necessities to finding that peace and appreciation that can come from a trip "into the woods" (you don't always need to be in the woods but I certainly recommend it).

1.) Camp in a Tent -- Even if you have access to a camper most times, struggle through setting up a tent at least once. In doing so, I'm confident you will gain a sense of accomplishment unlike anything you have felt before.

2.) Eat S'mores -- Be liberal with the chocolate and don't burn the marshmallow. Spoiler alert, you will likely end up burning it by accident.

3.) Camp Near Water -- Eventually you will want to swim. And I will tell you some of the most picturesque moments of my life were watching sunrises and sunsets over water while camping. (See below for example)

4.) Bathe in Said Body of Water -- You may be somewhere that has showers, don't use them. Be that family that wades out into the water and tosses the shampoo bottle around to the dismay and confusion of others.

5.) Go on a Hike -- Whether 2 or 20 miles, pull out a pair of appropriate walking shoes, grab a bottle of water and a granola bar, and just start walking. You will find that you have time to think, appreciate nature and enjoy the company you choose to keep. Bonus points for taking your phone (for emergencies) but turning it off for the whole excursion.

6.) Make Food Over the Fire -- Some of my favorite meals come straight out of a pie iron. Hot Dogs, Eggs, Grilled PB&J, Brats, Fish, where there is a will to cook something on the fire there is a way. Embrace the smoke following you around, enjoy the conversations you have while cooking, and have fun with it.

7.) Get Dirty -- There are so few times in life that it is socially acceptable to be dirty. Camping is one of those times, so grub up.

8.) Bring a Deck of Cards and a Good Book -- Especially in Michigan. The weather can turn in an instant (Crazy right??) and if you are stuck in a tent all day, you will be thankful that you have something to do. Even on nice days, it can be very enjoyable to just sit by the fire and play a game of Euchre or Rummy or get lost in a novel.

9.) Look at the Stars -- I'd imagine a surprising number of people have never seen the stars, and I mean really seen the stars the way that you can in the wilderness. Once clear of the pollution, both light and otherwise, appreciate the colossal nature of the universe, and world, that we live in/on and understand your smallness. Don't adulterate the moment with ipads, phones, charts, or anything, just be in that moment.  

10. Leave The World Behind -- Again, just be in that moment. Don't bring tablets, computers or (heaven forbid) video games/ gameboys and use your cell phone as little as possible. In fact, leave it in your vehicle and only check it every few hours, if that even. Bring a camera, but use it sparingly. I recently went camping and the night that the above photo was taken, on our way to the beach for the sunset, we passed a family of three; a mother, father and son. The mother was on her Ipad, the father on his cell phone, and the son on a laptop, all in their camper. If they only new what lay just beyond the walls of their camper and their screens. Be in that moment, leave the world behind.

(A Superheroine for one thing!)

Finally, and last but most certainly not least, watch the video below and do exactly zero of those things.

The Power of Siblings

Before I get into this post, I must address a few issues. Not everyone has, wants, or can develop a strong relationship with their siblings. What follows is my experience growing up with a sister. It might not be representative of most sibling experiences and it might not resonate with you. But I hope it makes you think and I hope you really stop to consider where you stand with your loved ones. For those of you who don't have siblings, the message can just as easily be applied to parents, cousins or best friends.

As some of you may know, I have been blessed with an incredible sister. She has inspired me in more ways than I could possibly share. She has modeled for me, perseverance, fortitude, kindness, compassion, loving and giving of yourself selflessly, and truly chasing what you want and making the most out of life. She is the yin to my yang, and I use that metaphor deliberately because as different as we are, we strike a lovely harmony when interacting with one another. We are very different people. I definitely don't own a beet farm...yet, and she isn't quite to the point of driving mustangs into graves without realizing it...yet, but in a way we are Dwight and Dwight's brother. We most certainly have not always gotten along, but even when we weren't "playing nice" we were teaching each other valuable lessons and helping each other grow.

You can probably count on one hand the people in your life that you might spend more time with than a sibling. We grow, change, play, fight, and learn from our siblings. We are given an opportunity to be a friend, a source of comfort, a beacon of hope in troubled times and a shoulder to lean on when the going gets rough. We can be inspired and be inspiring. We can be a role model and have a role model. We can encourage and be encouraged. We can love and be loved. Again, it's not easy being a sibling. It's something that must be worked at and it will most certainly not always be a love-love relationship. But there are few relationships that are hardwired to stand the test of time the way a siblingship (totally a legitimate world) is. There are few relationships that come prepackaged. That doesn't mean that they are not difficult. Yet at the end of the day, if cultivated correctly, they can be an invaluable lifeline.

Again, I feel as though I should emphasize that my sister and I don't always see eye to eye. We still argue to this day and I would gamble that we will continue to do so for years to come. But I challenge you to think of a meaningful relationship that you have with someone in which you always agree. More importantly though, I challenge you to stop and think about your siblings if you have them, or a close friend if you don't. I don't know you and I'm not pretending that I do. If you have a deep seeded reason for not talking to your brother(s) or sister(s) then so be it. But if you have siblings that you interact with at least on a semi-regular basis, let them know how much they mean to you. Thank them for all the times they played dress up (and spun around in your moms dress and heels at your request and subsequently destroyed their face on the corner of a wooden chest to please you...just a hypothetical situation), legos, video games, school, house, pretend or whatever else they might have done with/for you. Blood really does run deep, and the better our relationships are with those people we call kin, the better off we will ultimately be. After all...other people matter, period.