The case for being a dabbler in the outdoors

And the strange joy that comes with being a beginner

Despite how laid-back outdoorsy people seem on the surface, we live in an outdoor culture that prioritizes perfection. Get to know any outdoorsman (or woman) on a deeper level and you’ll quickly realize that a competitive nature and drive to push harder and farther is pretty much baked in.

It often feels like the need to achieve is a prerequisite of sorts to existing in the outdoors. And I get it. I have the type of personality that easily becomes fixated on outdoor sports and adventures, and the need to be good at everything I attempt.

Is it healthy? Probably not. But sometimes I just can’t help myself.

As a mom of two littles, though, I spend a lot of my time watching my kids do things for the first time. They’re beginners at nearly everything that they do, yet they somehow manage to always have a good time dabbling (even when they’re, to be frank, sucking at the thing they’re trying).

Watch a baby learn to walk and you really begin to understand the joy and excitement that comes with being bad at something yet still wanting to come back for more. It’s something else.

And it was from observing these kiddos that I started to question my mindset about dabbling.

Did I really need to be a seasoned biker to enjoy taking the bike out for a ride a few times a week?

Did I honestly have to be capable of running a 10K to have a good time going on a jog in the evening?

Did I truly need to spend 5 hours doing research on figure skates so I could optimize my decision, when all I actually needed was a simple pair that could last for a few loops around the rink with the fam? No, the answer is no (seriously, why did I do that?).

I know this is a bit of an unusual take, but once I manage to get out of my own head, I happen to really like being new at something. There’s excitement and anticipation behind doing something you’re not expected to be good at yet. No pressure to perform. Just the love of the activity.

It’s often when I take something too seriously that I end up sucking the life and fun out of it.

There have been more times than I can count where I’ve had imposter syndrome on the hiking trails, always feeling like there was someone who knew more than I did and was judging every step I took.

And it doesn’t really matter how many years of experience I’ve gained in the outdoors, how many trails I’ve tackled, and how many miles I log. The feeling that I need to catch up is always hanging around, ever present.

The joke is, no one’s paying attention to you, or me, or anyone else. We’re all so wrapped up in our own worlds that we barely notice anything outside of that. Unless you’re a professional athlete, nobody’s really looking, and that’s honestly so freeing.

The way I see it, that’s permission enough to enjoy being a beginner. Taste the damn rainbow of outdoor activities, and don’t be afraid to suck at something. Because if there’s anything my kids have taught me, it’s that sucking is half the fun.

You, and me and everyone else out there? We don’t need to take everything so seriously all the time. It’s totally okay to just dabble.