Today's Natural High...

Today I went hiking on Mount Ulriken. After spending 6 weeks in Norway, hiking has officially become my new favorite addiction in life (my top three others are probably running, music, and chocolate). There is something so completely refreshing and invigorating about spending time exploring and climbing this giantic natural playground we live on...I can't get enough of the fresh air, waterfalls, forests, and best of all, the view from the mountain tops! Its hard to describe how happy I felt inside today while climbing up the mountain...surrounded by beauty, and feeling so very alive, it was truly a natural high. If you could see me now, I'm still glowing :-)

I'm grateful for moments like these - feeling so in awe of the earth and blessed to be part of it. I really needed a "lift" of some sort today. Yesterday I was dealing with a bout of strong emotions and homesickness. I hate to use that dreaded word, but I was just really feeling out of my element and lonely for my friends and family back home. Overall, this has been an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for anything, but it hasn't all been easy and perfect. Literally moving out of your comfort zone is a difficult thing to do! Anyways, hiking with friends this afternoon was the most perfect way to get things sorted inside and back in perspective. I'm so happy and grateful to be here having this experience. I can't help but be equally grateful, though, for my life back home.

The other thing about hiking is that it will definitely wear you out...I'm officially wrapping up this weekend to go crawl into bed and get some sleep...g'nite all!