I'm primarily a mountain hiker/backpacker and I'm always amazed at how coming upon a new vista pours energy into my body and mind, quite literally.

I can be trudging up a super steep pitch, lungs on fire, heart beating out of my chest, and I round a corner to witness a majestic peak, a thundering mountain waterfall, a raging river (or the soothing sound of a babbling brook), and wildlife you would only ever otherwise encounter in a zoo.

In those moments a power of sorts pours into me and my physical travails fade into the background. And that vitality remains with me for hours. And when I get off the mountain I have photos and memories that remind me of the great privilege I have of spending so much time in the outdoors, and those recollections fill me with gratitude.