How Hiking Changed My Life, my entry for Week Five of the #sixweekhealth Challenge

My blog is all about food and cooking, so I'm sure you didn't expect a post like this from me, but I can't find words to describe how excited I was when I saw the challenge organized by @healthsquared and sponsored by @sweetsssj. I was trilled at the idea of telling you about my passion - hiking.

I started hiking about 5 years ago, but before I tell you everything about that I want to say something about what kind of state I was in when I started hiking.
When I graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature, I was so happy that I'm going to start a new life, independent, with a good job and enough money to start living my dreams. But life doesn't always give you what you expect. I live in a country with bad economy, so it happened that both my parents lost their jobs almost at the same time when I got my first job. So at a very young age I had to earn for the whole family. I worked hard, sometimes 12 hours a day, teaching English in a state and in a private school. And that affected my social life and my wish to meet people, to have fun and enjoy life. I am sorry to say that I spent maybe 5 years only working and worrying about the future.

Then, a friend of mine recommended going hiking at the near mountain. I had no idea what it means, but I went on my first hiking adventure. It was hard, I wasn't prepared, and maybe I wished I hadn't started the hike a hundred times, but when we finally reached the top all was clear, all was new, life was beautiful after a long time.

After that followed another hike, another mountain, another group of hikers that eventually became my very close friends. And the adventures began.

We now have hiking and biking club and we are active almost every weekend, during the summer even more.

I can't describe how I am changed as a person. When I think about myself back then it's like I'm thinking about someone else. After some time the financial problems of my parents were solved, but if it wasn't for the hiking, and all the good things that were result of that, I could have stayed in my closed shell, not letting anyone in.

Hiking gives you sense of freedom, builds your confidence, gives you physical and mental strength. You reach a mountain top and then there's no thing on earth that can spoil how good you feel. The mountains clear your mind form all the negativity and are able to think more clearly and cope with everyday problems in a calm way and with hope that everything is going to be fine eventually.

And the connection people have up in the mountains is precious, how hikers care for each other, how they share everything, like food and water, and how they give each other motivation. I have so many close friends that I have met on some on my hiking tours, and we are like a family now.

And one thing leads to another. Some of my friends are bikers, so last year I bought myself a good bike so I am a part of the biking group too :) We have a nice biking path around a lake, so in summer we ride our bikes to the lake almost every day.

A couple of months ago I also started skiing, and I am pretty good at it too, so that's another thing that fills me with energy and gives me joy.

Oh, yes, I tried kayaking too, that's so much fun :)

Let's go back to hiking. About the equipment, you only need good hiking boots (my advice is to get good ones), a pair of walking poles (skiing poles would do too) and a good hiking jacket, and the most important thing - you need to have the wish to see the better you at the top of the mountain. Because that will happen, you will see braver, calmer, happier you up there.

I intentionally posted photos of me hiking in different seasons to show you that hiking is a sport that can be practiced all the year long, and if the weather is really bad you will always have the stories form the hiking adventures to keep you warm until the next hiking adventure.

My advice to you all - start exploring nature, start tomorrow by walking to the nearest park. Challenge yourself to something bigger every day, step my step, and you will see how your life is changing for better in front of your eyes.