Wherever We Land

They say you never forget your first crush. And maybe that’s true. But today, I’m more focused on my next one. Not a person, not a fleeting feeling—but something much deeper. Something I didn’t fully notice until recently. I’ve fallen—hard—for the outdoors.

This isn’t new territory for me, but it feels renewed. Like something I’ve seen before but never truly looked at until now. Camping, walking among the trees, hearing the water trickle over rocks—it’s all starting to feel like more than just scenery. It’s becoming something I long for. I think about it when I’m stuck inside. I crave the stillness, the freedom, the simple awe of being surrounded by creation.

Nature has become my next crush.

I feel it every time I unzip the tent and breathe in morning air. Every time I sit quietly and listen to birds announcing the day like they’re singing just for me. There’s a quiet romance in it all. The golden hour light filtering through the trees feels like a soft gaze. The wind brushing my face feels intentional. I can’t help but smile when I see the first spark of a campfire flicker to life like a heartbeat.

This isn’t a crush I’m trying to hide. It’s one I want to embrace. I want to spend more time outdoors, to nurture this relationship with creation that keeps calling me back. It’s not about escape—it’s about connection. A deeper connection with the land, with peace, and with God. Because in nature, I don’t feel like I have to perform. I just get to be.

This next crush is not a passing phase. It’s the beginning of a new chapter—a commitment to return again and again to the wild spaces that ground me and remind me who I am. I’m not chasing a feeling; I’m walking slowly into something real. And it feels good to finally notice the beauty that’s been waiting patiently for me to fall in love.