I've never been an outdoorsy girl. Because you can't control the air out there. There's the brightness and heat of the sun. And bugs. Bugs! Especially spiders. Ew. And there's never anything to do, I was always so sure.
I didn't suspect all my thoughts about it would change with this job I took recently.
Remember I mentioned it back in the spring? I couldn't say much then, but I'll say more now.
I'm an odor monitor for a local study. I won't get into the science of it, but basically our team gathers certain types of data, with our noses and various instruments, to be used as seen fit by whomever in the future.
And we sit. We sit a lot. In the sun, in the rain, in the wind, in the heat. In the outdoors. It is our job.
I've come to like it. A whole bunch. The warmth of the sun, the feel of the breezes. I like to stand strong, whatever the element. I like the smell of rain, the sounds of the birds. I've a favorite, even: The Eastern Meadowlark. Such a beautiful song. And my least favorite, a killdeer. I love how they protect their eggs, but they're loud and paranoid and naggy.
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And it turns out there's lots to do outside. The peace of it is so nice.`
If I'm not visiting with my co-workers, I'm reading. Or writing. Or even just sitting, being. I love to sit and think. To contemplate my depths, who it is I am, and what it is I need in this life. What I have to offer.
It turns out that, in finding the outdoors, I've begun finding me. And it's proving to be a significant experience.
