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Just a heads up Reader, this is a longer read but an intriguing one! At least that's how I see it 🤭 Here we go...

It’s going fast!

And no, I’m not talking about the fact that it’s already October or that the shops are filling up with Christmas decorations. Although, seriously, where did this year go?! 🤣

No, I’m talking about the rapid pace at which artificial intelligence is becoming part of our everyday lives, whether we like it or not. And I’m experiencing both sides of it.

On one hand, I absolutely LOVE what AI makes possible. I use it every single day. Research, comparing documents, writing reports, analysing information, brainstorming ideas… You name it. Things that would have taken me four days in the past can now be accomplished in a fraction of the time. As an entrepreneur, I can only applaud that kind of efficiency.

But there’s another side to the story.

For more than 17 years, I’ve been working with a company that provides distance-learning courses. Over the years, I’ve written courses, developed learning materials, and corrected thousands of homework assignments. And now, I’m helping to teach AI how to do part of my job. I’m developing standard answers and assessment criteria that will eventually allow assignments to be evaluated automatically. In other words, I’m helping to develop the technology that might eventually replace me. 🤣

And you know what? I’m actually okay with that. I’ve had 17 wonderful years doing this work, and I’m grateful that I still get to do it today. Things evolve. Businesses evolve. Technology evolves. I understand the business perspective, one hundred percent. But I would be lying if I said the speed at which everything is changing doesn’t sometimes feel a little scary. And judging by the conversations I’ve had over the past few weeks, I’m certainly not the only one feeling that way.

It made me wonder whether, in a world that’s moving faster and faster, we’re forgetting to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy what truly matters.

Because here’s the funny thing. While I was busy embracing all this new technology, finishing my MBA, working, and juggling everything else, something that has always been incredibly important to me had slowly slipped into the background. My daily walks.

If you’ve been following Backyard Gossip for a while, you’ll know that walking is my thing. In fact, it’s what inspired me to create A Backyard Hiker in the first place! It’s where I clear my head, process my thoughts, find inspiration, and sometimes come up with my best ideas. But during those final, incredibly busy months of my MBA, even my walks started disappearing from my schedule. And when I did manage to get outside, I was often rushing through them. Another box ticked. Done. Next! Not exactly the idea behind slowing down, is it? 😬

And then something wonderful happened.

I spent an entire week in Clayoquot Sound, surrounded by nature. For the first time in what felt like forever, I had absolutely nothing I needed to do. No MBA assignments, no deadlines, no emails demanding my attention, no calls to answer, and hardly any internet connection. Bliss!

Instead, my days were filled with morning yoga, cold-water plunges, canyoning, walking, horseback riding, canoeing, and simply enjoying being outside. And somewhere during that week, I realized just how much I’d missed it. Not necessarily the adventures, although they were pretty spectacular, but the feeling of having space. Space to think, space to breathe, space to simply be.

And the wonderful thing is that we don’t need to spend a week in the wilderness or go canyoning to experience that connection. Sometimes, all it takes is stepping outside our own front door. Taking a few minutes to notice the birds, the changing colours of the leaves, the sound of the wind, or simply how we feel.

Since returning home, I’ve made my daily walks a priority again. And goodness, it feels good!

Which brings me to something I’ve been thinking about for a while...

Some years ago, I created #60DaysToDiscover, a well-being challenge encouraging people to slow down, get outside, and discover the wonders of nature through daily walks. The initiative even inspired a research project at Concordia University of Edmonton, exploring the relationship between walking, noticing nature, and well-being. It was something I absolutely loved creating and sharing, and lately, I’ve been wondering whether it’s time to bring it back.

Perhaps now more than ever. Not because we need another challenge, another goal, or another thing to add to our already overflowing to-do lists. Quite the opposite. Because maybe, in a world that’s becoming increasingly focused on doing things faster, we could all benefit from spending a little more time simply being.

So, I’m toying with the idea of bringing #60DaysToDiscover back in January. A fresh start to the year, but perhaps with a slightly different approach to those traditional New Year’s resolutions. Before I make any decisions, though, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Next week, I’ll share a short survey because I’d love to hear how you make time to get outside, what sometimes gets in the way, and what might encourage you to do it more often. And who knows? Perhaps we’ll discover something wonderful together.

Until then, maybe take a few minutes to step outside this weekend. No particular destination, no step count to achieve. Just you and whatever nature has to offer.

Happy wandering!
Peggy

P.S. And YES, I’m going to use AI to help me put together the survey. Ironic, right?! 🤣 Hey, it’s all about finding the right balance!

Backyard Gossip | Stories about life, business & the spaces in between