Our minds process a million thoughts per minute. It is a machine that is always going. But even machines need to take breaks. We need to quiet our minds so that we can get clarity. Nature offers us the silence, the peace and the space to get clear. The process of creating art also allows the decluttering of the mind, allowing us to focus and regenerate our thoughts. Hiking is a peaceful escape – birds sing, the clean air is charged with possibilities, the trees are magnificent, the flowers are vibrant, the sounds of water calm us and take us away and if we happen to see a deer, it’s fascinating. When I am creating art, the possibilities seem endless, I am surrounded by vibrant colours, my mind is focused and I am carried away by the rhythm and flow of what I am trying to portray.

 In a world of distractions, this focus increases our mindfulness. We are more observant. We listen. We pay more attention to our environment. We can even be meditative. The natural settings that nature provides allows our minds to meander like a stream which can increase our creativity and in turn produce an abundance of ideas. While a stream may wander; its direction is always clear and concentrated. The very beauty of nature enhances creativity. One of the themes of my art is growth and nature inspires me endlessly. It is ever present in some of my art. In a space that has no limitations and boundaries, there is only the limit of our imagination. This is true of hiking in the outdoors and true for art. Where we choose to go, how far we go, is determined only by our own boundaries.

An offshoot of creativity is a sharper mind that is able to trouble shoot. Our creative thinking helps us to navigate an unpredictable world. I can plan an art piece but it’s never certain how it’s going to turn out because I may have additional ideas or the art may have its own ideas. The possibilities are endless and you learn push the boundaries. In a similar way, hiking can bring about unexpected twist and turns. Getting lost, getting injured, a fallen tree across your trail, an advancing animal, are all things we may have to deal with in nature. When these challenges arise, how we deal with them determines how we experience life. We can scream and throw our hands up in the air or we can get creative with solutions. We navigate all these things in the same way we navigate life – by using our creativity.