Ethan recently came down to spend a week in my new city with me before he heads back to school. We decided to make the most out of the last bit of good weather by doing our favorite thing. Getting outside!

This is our first camping trip together solo! We learned so much. So much.

Here’s a few:

• The quickest way isn’t always the best way. This one was learned the HARDEST way. 3 hours or 1 hour?! I chose the shortest way, obviously. Though it took us to our beautiful campsite, it was a very dangerous road.
• Be over-prepared. I forgot the most important thing for camping this late in the summer… the extra blanket. It made for a COLD night–the kind of cold that’ll make you sick–and the decision to cut the trip a night short.
• Maybe check your gear BEFORE you’re about to leave. I had this old camp grill from my grandparents’ cabin. I got it last summer and never got the chance to use it, test it out or even look at it really. Of course, when Ethan grabbed it to pack it up, it was missing a part, like a super important part. You know, the part that makes propane go into the grill… So we then processed to spend the next hour and a half going from store to store looking for a new one–Lowe’s for the win–not a great start to our trip.
• It’s okay to ask for directions. Okay, I admit it. I HATE asking anyone else for help (any other Enneagram 8s reading?). Ethan has no problem. It took a lot for me to let him though. In fact, he waved a guy down in such a way that he probably thought I was kidnapping him–all because I refused to stop. If he hadn’t asked for help a couple of times for us, we wouldn’t of gotten home when we did or found the way out to the Boise National Forest that we did!
• Don’t think about a thing. No service. No phone other than photos and video. It was so good for me. I realized that my mind is running all the time, whether it’s about work, dreams, what’s for dinner, my next workout, pinterest, literally anything. My mind is never empty. I was laying in the hammock as Ethan grilled just listening to the sounds of the bugs and the wind when I realized how at peace I was. Nature is so good for your soul. It reminded me to take a breather every now and then.
• Getting lost can be a good thing. Not going to lie, I kind of like getting lost, but only if it’s with Ethan–never alone! You see, getting lost together amplifies the adventure. When you’re lost, you explore so much more. I just love that.

Share with me a lesson you recently learned camping in the comments.

Happy camping,

xo Kylee