Ah, Colorado. Sunny 300+ days a year, 39,000+ miles of hiking trails, and mountain access from Denver in less than 20 minutes (15 without traffic, but let's be real: there's always traffic). Our beautiful Centennial State is full of possible adventures. And we Coloradans love adventure.
How many times have you asked a friend or colleague what their plans are for the weekend and they say something like, “Oh, I'll probably do something pretty low-key.” Maybe take a hike or two” or “I’m skiing at insert-chosen-mountain-here.”
I'm going to be 100% completely, utterly and vulnerable here.
I've lived in Colorado for five years and have never hiked a 14er. Worse still, I don't know if I ever will. The idea of hiking for hours increasing altitude and decreasing oxygen doesn't sound like my idea of fun.
I know it's a lot to take in.
It's okay, you can take a minute to process.
We will get through this.
In a state that measures its weekend success in 14ers and exploring national parks, it can be somewhat alienating to admit that I'm not a huge outdoorsman. I understand the appeal; Colorado is beautiful and of course, I love experiencing it up close. I will never forget the time I saw a moose crossing the road on the way out of Rocky Mountain National Park. Or the view from the Maroon Bells base.
When I moved here, I convinced myself that I would become a Colorado Girl. I bought a pair of hiking boots, a snowboard, and a trendy water bottle (a Hydroflask. I think we're now about six brands beyond this trend). I made a list of Colorado adventures and my New Year's resolution was to hike Pikes Peak by the end of the year. Five years later, I've completed about a third of that list and have yet to see the summit of Pikes Peak.
I know that makes it sound like I became lazy, but in reality I just felt more comfortable in my own personality. I began to accept that while I enjoy pretty views and fun outdoor adventures, I enjoy other activities more. I realized that I didn’t have to adapt to Colorado’s adventure culture to love living here.
And you know what? It's a lot more fun for me now. Because instead of forcing myself to participate in activities that make me look like an ultra-cool outdoor Wonder Woman, I do things that make me feel more like myself. The adventures I choose to take now are much more enjoyable because I know I'm doing them for the right reasons. I no longer try to be the Colorado Girl: I fill my life with memories that reflect my interests and desires.
So the next time you feel like you don't measure up to Colorado's ultra-outdoors culture, ask yourself: Does it matter if I fit in if I'm myself?
Spoiler: The answer is no.
