The Hashtag that Took me to Heaven
“Guard, protect and cherish your land, for there is no afterlife for a place that started out as heaven” — Charlie Russell
The sun was setting just beyond the horizon as the sky turned into a blanket of crimson and gold. The white wash of the waves melted into the sand as the smell of salt and sea enveloped the shoreline. Content, I buried my toes just out of water’s reach, in awe of the scene before me. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and listened. The waves were shy but the seagulls were chatty. Tiny sea shells clattered against one another as the tide rode in and out. It felt as if the sun and sky were singing their most beautiful tune. And then….
The phone rang.
It was a typical Tuesday morning in the office. Coffee machines were churning as the sound of keyboards clicked and printers clacked. I answered the phone with utmost positivity, hoping the person on the other end would reciprocate. Everyone was in an overall good mood, excited for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. However, I was suffering from a typical case of the 9–5 blues: wake up, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to bed, rinse and repeat. As I began sorting through my email I couldn’t help but long for an outdoor adventure. I needed to be in nature and away from the hustle and bustle of daily routine. But how? And when?
I opened the first email in my inbox, and there it was. REI was closing on Black Friday in an effort to push people to get outside. As I read through the article, my excitement grew. Instead of shopping and spending money, the company announced they were starting a campaign to get customers out-and-about on the busiest selling day of the year. Their goal was to advocate a happy and healthy lifestyle, and to encourage being outdoors and in nature. To further promote the campaign, REI asked customers to share where and what they were doing on Black Friday to #OptOutside. This was it. This was the inspiration I needed to take my adventure.
Hiking boots and backpack in hand, I set out for one of the most exciting places I could think of — Yosemite National Park. Surrounded by massive walls of granite, I hiked waterfalls, explored trails, and climbed boulders. The smell of crisp valley air ignited the fire in me I had been missing. It was not only rejuvenating, but inspiring. I had finally gone on the adventure I was longing for.
REI’s #OptOutside campaign pushed me to try something new and branch out from typical Black Friday shenanigans. Since then, it has grown into a movement and continues to be a leading example of how to live a healthy lifestyle and embrace nature. Because of the #OptOutside campaign, I am more passionate about exploring what the world has to offer. It changed my mindset and taught me to not take any day for granted. Life is short, what will your next adventure be?
