Hiking Along: A Feminist's Journey Through Teaching, Parenting & Outdoor Adventure

Dear B & V, Joy is not the same as happiness but many similarities exist between the two. I think of happiness as a sustained feeling, while joy is more momentary. Sustaining happiness throughout life is difficult but finding much joy can create happiness. Happiness rides a roller coaster, at times the coaster is struggling up hill and happiness feels out of reach. Then, the coaster reaches the crest, the view is spectacular and the ride downhill is thrilling - joy inducing. Joy makes me smile. Sometimes joy creates spontaneous laughter that makes my checks hurt and my belly ache. Joy makes my body feel light, often like wearing the most soft and fluffy slippers. It heightens my senses, like a thousand receptors feeling, seeing, smelling and hearing. It makes me feel bold and strong, like a female champion arm wrestler. In essence, joy makes me feel alive, like all my neurons are sparkling with electrical impulses. Joy is a gift whether created by oneself or shared between pe...

"No! Go!" I yelled. I repeated it, this time intensifying my volume. There was something about this blonde-furred, blue-eyed, unattached dog that caused the warning bells to sound in my head. Maybe it was increased levels of cortisol pulsing through my body due to weeks of stress. It was likely both. I turned with Fern and walked backwards, keeping my blue eyes on its until this unaccompanied dog stopped on the trail. I pivoted and hiked quickly back towards the trailhead a little less than a mile away. I climbed the hill and then heard the jiggle of tags and the crunch of leaves behind me. My head snapped back. The dog had followed us. I yelled, "No! Go!" And again. I continued up the hill with my heart pounding, my breathe short, sweat pouring down my back and panic. "Why is this dog following us?" It wasn't just following us down the trail but through the woods in a sneaky way. Was this real? This scenario continued for the remainder ...

   Each summer, our family vacation centers on spending time in a national or state park which has been set aside because someone (or a group of people) knew there was something special about the land. So we've got to check it out! This summer we traveled to Quebec province, in particular the areas of Lac Saint Jean and Saguenay River three hours north of Quebec City. The Saguenay River is well known for its breathtaking fjords and beluga whales. Much land along the Saguenay is protected by two parks, Parc Marin du Saguenay-Saint-Laurent and Parc National du Fjord-Du-Saguenay, which is managed by Sepaq .     After this trip, I fell even more in love with Canada's parks. Three years ago, we spent two weeks in Nova Scotia at Cape Breton, Kemjikujik and Five Islands. The Canadian government and its citizens treasure their land and have invested many tax dollars to conserve it and provide excellent recreational resources. For example, trails are well mainta...

Dear B & V, Unlike teaching, parenting isn't a major someone takes in college to prepare themselves to be a mom or dad. Parenting just happens, purposefully or accidentally. When a child is born, parents are thrown into parenthood with only the model of generations before them. Some models are good and some not so. Most people, consciously or subconsciously, have taken bits from how they were raised and used it to build their own parenting philosophy. The preparation to become a teacher is quite opposite of preparing to be a parent. Many teachers earn an undergraduate degree in education: taking classes, observing teachers and student-teaching under the mentorship of a veteran teacher. My journey was a bit more unconventional. I threw myself into teaching as a grad student, discovered I liked it, became a substitute teacher and was offered a job teaching without knowledge of educational pedagogy. Therefore, my path into teaching more closely aligned with parenting; tr...

Dear B & V, ... President. This weekend marks one year since Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States and millions of men, women and children gathered around the world to protest his presidency and empower women's political engagement. As I think back, I experienced a range of emotions starting on November 8, 2016 through January 2017: anticipation to elect the first female president, disappointment, despair, anger, frustration, betrayal, hope, sense of community, rage, and a continued questioning of who I am. One year later, I admit I resigned myself to fluctuating feelings of hopelessness and disgust. Both have elicited a desire for a silent world free from news and my internal voice that lashes out (maybe this is why I've hiked so much this year - the silence of the trail has been so peaceful). It is that internal voice that is going public before I retreat back into hopeless isolation. Therefore, my disgusted, Gen X, privileged, white woman voic...

Dear B & V, As President Obama says, a father to his children,  "Be kind and be useful."  Stats on saving the ocean as a volunteer... 1 amazing 60 foot sail boat, 9 volunteers with passion for the ocean, 12 beautiful days sailing on the waves, 2, 087 pieces of marine debris cleaned, 276 cigarette butts, 236 pieces of rope, 205 pieces of lobster traps, 124 food wrappers/containers, 191 plastic bottles & caps, 66 balloons, 200 kids one step closer to loving and respecting the ocean, 3 seals and 1 seagull saved, one joyful morning with 100 dolphins and one priceless volunteer experience! Love & Peace, Mom

Dear B & V, How many times have people asked you...        "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer was always, "I want to be a Marine Biologist". I gave this same answer from elementary school until graduating from high school. As you know, I am not a Marine Biologist nor was I ever. However this childhood passion for the ocean fueled something deeper in me (more on that in another post). I'm halfway through my career; one that has not been linear but similar to when glass splinters. It has traveled in multiple directions. Some people have a vision for their career with clear goals and drive to stick with their map. Some others choose a career, become very comfortable and stay in it for their whole life. Neither have been my professional journey. I have made mine up as I've gone along with life. I'm not afraid of change. I like and see it as a growth opportunity to learn. For the past 25 years, I have been open to possibili...