Walking with my dog, Josie, across the creek at Gooseberry Falls State Park in Minnesota.

Nature's ability to heal

When it comes to adjusting to a life without my parents or my twin brothers, I can't exactly say I am doing particularly well. Every night I go to bed, and every morning at the same time the alarm clock sounds, calling me to shower, get dressed, slip into my shoes and walk into the world — and the routine passing of time.

Those things seem to happen automatically these days, as if I have been put on autopilot. The person making the decision to move forward with life, in some cases, is not exactly me.

What I can say is that I have actively sought out opportunities for peace and meaningful reflection, turning my woes over to the healing power of nature as often as I am able.

A Tour of State Parks
So far this year, Matt and I have taken a trip to the north shore of Minnesota on Lake Superior, where we hiked through Gooseberry Falls State Park, and we have traveled to Interstate State Park and Great River Bluffs State Park in Minnesota, as well as Willow River State Park in Wisconsin. In April, I journeyed to Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio with my sister, bringing the number of state parks I have visited this year to five.

Considering I didn't embark on any of these trips until late March, that's five state parks in two-and-a-half months.