Guest Blog Post by Gear Tester: Devan Nichols

I'll never forget the first time I was ever referred to as an "athlete." In all the years I spent recreationally skiing or waking up early for summer swim team, nobody had ever given me that label. In my mind, that term was reserved for people who played on a court and had a super competitive nature (of which I did not).

I was in my late 20s: a leader for a team I was training through a pilot program for a backpacking leadership course. I'd spent over 15 years as an outdoor leader, instructor, and guide. But I never considered myself an athlete until someone said it out loud.

But could someone who loved the outdoors even be an athlete? Or on the flip side, could you love the outdoors without being an athlete?

I'm now aware that YES, you can be athletic and love the outdoors. But more importantly, you can absolutely LOVE the outdoors and not be athletic.

That's what makes adventure so beautiful: it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from. Rich or poor, tall or short, young or old, athletic or not, there is always something to learn from and love about nature.

You don't need to summit a mountain to love the outdoors. You don't need fancy gear to be "outdoorsy." And you certainly don't need to be in tip-top shape to experience nature's benefits and beauty.

So go.

Step outside, take a breath, and pause for a moment to give thanks.

If you want to love the outdoors, give it a shot.

Nature is waiting.



About the Author

Devan is passionate about getting just about anybody outside into fresh air and adventure. She firmly believes healing and transformation happen in nature. After guiding for over a decade, she’s now taking that knowledge and passing it onto her children and…the internet! Devan’s hope is to empower and inspire others to step outside their comfort zones into the adventures they’ve always dreamed of. Learn more on her website at www.unstuckadventures.com