Over the years, I was happy to be called an ambivert. But in recent times I slipped into social isolation due to the challenges of life that no one prepares you for. Thanks to doting older siblings who began to worry that it was taking a toll on my well-being and pushing me into loneliness and depression. “Mimi, you need to intentionally go out” became a frequent anthem that I eventually yielded to. After viewing pictures of the April 2022 BSA outing on LinkedIn, I enquired about the June edition, and this became my ticket to connecting with nature as therapy for my clogged mind.
Being open-minded is the key to having the time of your life on a hiking trip. But as an overthinker, I just wanted basic information that would keep my mind at ease. The BSA team cleared my doubt with respect to prior team visits to the hike location, risk assessment, a certified first aider on the ground, and the program schedule for the day. Don’t blame me I’m a health, Safety, and Environment professional.
If you are picky about associations like me, A good time awaits you as well because BSA set the bar high when it comes to hiking. From the catchy phrase (This is Living!!) to meeting beautiful people from different nationalities and diverse views who carry out intellectual discussions respectfully, I got my social groove back. As one whose asthma gets triggered by chilly atmospheric conditions, I have had zero worries hiking with BSA, because there is prior information about the right gears to put on, and information about the weather as well so this helps me plan appropriately.
Most importantly, an essential part of black gatherings or outings is food and music. Alongside games by a beautiful loch, this important aspect has been incorporated into each BSA outing with consideration for the environment by way of having a good waste management plan for the duration of the outing.
Lastly, my happy moments are the times I get to soak in the beauty of nature (my very own natural detox). The serene scenic attractions handpicked by the BSA team ward off negative energy (On God!!) and now I look forward to contributing to BSA’s sustainable tourism agenda. Having benefitted from the hikes, I might as well put my sustainability skills to work.
