Get Lost, Get Found

One thing I always say about myself is that I am solar powered. I absolutely thrive in the sunshine. I love being outside, especially in warm weather, but even when it’s cold, the sun absolutely energizes me.  Which is why I try very hard to spend at least a little bit of time outside every single day, precipitation and temperature permitting.

Similarly, I love exploring new trails. Nature preserves, hiking trails, parks… you name it, I want to try it. Fresh air, adventure - I’m in.

I recently visited a new (to me) nature preserve. It was an unseasonably warm afternoon in early spring and I wanted to recharge. At the trailhead, I checked out my options. There were three paths indicated on the map, each indicated by its own color markings. The red path was just longer than I wanted, based on the time at which I wanted to return home. The purple path was a short little loop, not challenging enough for me. Then there was the yellow loop. Medium distance, mildly challenging - perfect for a random Wednesday afternoon.

The path was beautiful, the terrain varied enough to make it interesting both visually and physically. Hills, valleys, even a creek to cross. And the best part? Because it was a random Wednesday early in the Spring, I had the trail completely to myself. It felt freeing. And magical. And very special.

Until the yellow trail stopped. A turn in the trail that was, I don’t know, halfway, maybe two thirds through the loop was blocked off with a sign saying that the trail was closed.

I had two choices. This turn off was also at an intersection with the red trail. But not knowing exactly where I was on the map, I had no way of knowing how much more of the red trail still laid ahead. So I could forge forward and try my luck with however much of the red trail remained, or I could turn around and return to the trailhead by doubling back.

If you know me at all, you know I kept going, switching from yellow to red with a “well, let’s see how this goes!” attitude. Worst case scenario, I could turn around later, right?

And off I went, enjoying the sun, the scenery, the quiet, and the adventure.

Until the trail markings… stopped. At a certain point, the only markings that I could see looped a small copse at the edge of a field, but didn’t seem to connect with any thing else. Trying a bit in one direction brought me to private property, and trespassing wasn’t on my to-do list for the day. The other direction brought me to a side road leading to a small office complex. Neither had trail markings. Neither felt like the way to go. And at this point, turning around and trying to retrace my steps through the red trail and back to the yellow to find my way back to the trailhead was definitely not what I wanted to do. 

Was I scared? I’m not going to lie. I was a little scared. I was lost at the edge of a trail at a random nature preserve and not a living, breathing soul in this world knew where I was.

But at the same time… I was truly excited. 

This was absolutely a different kind of adventure than I’d set out for, but I knew that I’d be okay.

I crossed the field leading the side road, and followed it in the direction leading away from the buildings, knowing I’d find my way to a main (or… more main) road. A quick check of my maps app (listen, yes I was there for nature, but I’m grateful for the assist from technology on this one…) let me know which direction to turn, and that I was just over a mile away from the parking lot where I’d started. Just over a mile on a hilly, two-lane, no-sidewalks, twisty, turny back road. Once again, I was a little scared. But I also knew that I was really and truly fine.

Was this what I’d planned? No.

Was this a road I would have ever chosen to walk on under normal circumstances? No.

But was it fun? And exhilarating? And an experience I am so glad I had? Absolutely.

A little walking, a little running, a whole lot of jogging, and I made my way back to where I’d started from. A little sweatier, a little more adrenaline-filled, and a lot more proud of myself than I thought I would be when I stepped onto the trail.

So maybe my afternoon nature walk didn’t go quite the way I planned, but maybe that’s the point. Thriving isn’t about sticking to the map. It’s about adapting, choosing curiosity over fear, and trusting yourself to keep going - even when the trail disappears. Sometimes, getting a little lost is the best way to actually find yourself.