Lockdown Thoughts

So, in the blink of an eye, 8 weeks in lockdown have passed and it’s been one hell of a rollercoaster ride. This week, I’m really trying to be more positive and focus more on my own mental health and wellbeing.

There have been some tough times over the last couple of months, times I’ve had no motivation, times I’ve cried and times I’ve felt so alone. However for all the bad times, I’ve had some good ones too. I’ve spent precious time with my husband, discovered some lovely local walks and found a renewed love for expressing my creativity.

I’ve also read lots of books, eaten my body weight in chocolate and found planning new adventures helps. So as we prepare to leave lockdown and go back to work (in the office), I have a list of things I want to achieve, I might not achieve them all this year but I am excited to do something new….

Go on a Wild Camp- the chance to hike one of my favourite hikes then sleep under the stars is something I have been desperate to try. With the Peak District easily accessible, I want to head up to the wilds of Kinder Scout and sleep out. I don’t care if it’s cold, rainy or windy, I can’t think of anything better than a night alone in the wilderness. Despite a love for camping, I’ve never quite persuaded Sam to do a wild camp but I am determined to give it a go before the year is out. Perhaps I’ll take Luna and go it alone…

Hike the Annapurna Circuit- this is one that is obviously not going to happen this year but hopefully I can make it happen in the next few years, it’s a trek I would love to try. Annapurna is a beautiful mountain in Nepal and I cannot think of a better way to experience these beautiful mountains than with a backpacking trip. The trek itself takes 15- 16 days, so I would need to take a chunk of time off work, but what an experience it would be to revel in a different, simple way of life for a few weeks. To dip my toe in, I’ve got a couple of books about the circuit and local area and have really enjoying reading about this beautifully bleak place, so who knows, watch this space.

Improve my Photography & Film More- one thing I always regret after a hike, is not capturing more with my camera, I will come away with a lot of images, but there’s always room for more right? Whist I like to live in the moment and enjoy the hike, I plan to invest in a few more lenses for my trusty Canon and perhaps even film more of those epic walks. They are little moments in life I’d like to look back on, plus I’d love to share more adventures with you guys.

So there you have it, my three biggest goals, some are easily achievable, others will take a little more effort and planning. I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends when lockdown is lifted and I’d also like to:-

Evolve this little blog, by sharing more posts, more walks & more photos.

Hold an Insta-meet, the perfect way for this introvert to meet like minded people.

Camp & hill-walk in Scotland, fingers crossed for summer as we are meant to be heading there then.

Get on the local climbing wall, eagerly waiting the re-opening of this.

Visit Canada again, with time and money, perhaps this will be on our 5 year wedding anniversary, only 3 years to go (sob).

So, however you’ve been feeling, focus on the positive, try and plan ahead and remember this isn’t forever. Let me know your plans and let me know any suggestions you think I may like too.

See you in the hills soon,

Sarah