In the Bookstagram community, we tend to focus on books so much. I’m always seeing people apologize for not posting or being absent or what-not. It’s important that we acknowledge our hugely vibrant lives outside of the screens, which I will be doing a lot more of from now on… So here’s a slice of mine:
I have a best friend with whom I have a long history. He has been my person for damn near a decade. So I’ll round. Due to circumstance, he had never been able to meet my grandparents, who I am incredibly close to. FINALLY, he did. He took leave – he’s a Marine – and we roadtripped to their house in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Suffice to say, they got along splendidly.
I have spent a great deal of time visiting my grandparents, so I had a great deal of things and places I wanted to show him. It was like taking him home for the very first time; except better because no parents.
Lake Ouachita is only about twenty minutes from their house. It’s a huge lake with incredible outdoor activities. We went with the intention of kayaking and taking some really beautiful book pictures. But… that didn’t happen. It was too windy, and they wouldn’t let us rent kayaks because we’d get lost on the water or something like that. I was sad. Honestly, it was for the best because I completely lack upper body strength, and would have for sure been lost at lake.
Since kayaking had been the plan, I dressed accordingly: swimsuit, maxi skirt, and flip flops. Ideal kayaking outfit for cute pictures…. What it’s not ideal for? Hiking.
We walked back to the car. I was sad. Not wanting to waste the trip, we looked at each other and went “walk?” To fill you in. Lake Ouachita is not a podunk lake. It is ginormous. It is located in the Ozarks, so by walk I really mean mountainous hike. While at the car, I had a debate mostly with myself about “should I leave the book in the car?” I went back and forth. Here’s the thing. I love blogging, but it is not just a hobby anymore. I HAVE to create content because it’s becoming a job, which I love. Sometimes, I don’t want to work. After chatting it out with Alex – but mostly myself – I decided to leave the book in the car and enjoy the time I get with my best friend in a beautiful place. I went one further. I left my phone in the car!!! *GASP* (How did the pictures here come to be? Alex brought his phone.)
It was a good thing I left my book and phone in the car because I would have inevitably tripped and fallen all over myself because hiking through a rocky forest with stuff in my hands while wearing flip flops as the clumsy person I am is a bad idea. Very bad idea.
Lake Ouachita is absolutely gorgeous. If you ever a chance to go, you should. Try the kayaking because it’s fun, and you’ll definitely get a work out. We ended up walking almost five miles. I’m glad I wore a swimsuit that gave me good tan lines.
The trail we took was winding. They had recently done a controlled burn to encourage future growth. There was a good amount of breeze as the leaves rustled and the waves rolled in constantly. We were never far from the lake’s shoreline. There were places with sandy shores, forest meets water, and rocks. I love it there. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. It’s an excellent place to get away because you won’t have any cell reception!
It’s important to enjoy life in the moment and not through a lense. I could have taken some really amazing book photos. Instead, I had an amazing day. I rarely get to see my best friend. He lives on the other side of the country and is at the mercy of the Marines. Our time is very limited. It’s important to recognize moments beautiful moments, so they are not wasted.