Why we #OptOutside

Peter Maccario
Nov 3 · 3 min read

Bringing to life the importance of the outdoors through our stories

Me hanging out on Giant’s Ledge in the Catskills

Over the past couple of months I have had the opportunity to spend plenty of time outdoors — hiking, climbing, surfing, park wandering, you name it — and each experience leaves me feeling extremely grateful and privileged to have access to such beautiful places. I feel that I am not alone in saying that being outdoors makes us happier and healthier as individuals but also as a society. This is why I started a personal project called: “Why we #OptOutside”.

The “Why we #OptOutside” project is (currently) a compilation of blog posts, written by everyday people, focusing on the meaning of the outdoors through the voices of many individuals who opt to consciously spend time outdoors. Posts are made up of personal responses to five questions, which are meant to capture physical places, feelings, emotions, experiences, and stories to encapsulate one’s individual representation of the outdoors.

I believe that, by writing about the outdoors and sharing our memorable stories, we can hopefully not only get more people outside to experience its beauty, but also further instill the importance of caring for the outdoors and therefore the environment. It is a small action, but I hope this project can bring life to a beautiful narrative of people coming together for their love of the outdoors and the power it holds for them.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” — John Muir

I will start posting responses at the beginning of November (coming soon!!) and will continue sharing them throughout the month. Also, I hope throughout this project we will find opportunities, as friends, strangers and community of outdoor enthusiasts, to get outside and celebrate the outdoors. I am planning for a first gathering on Friday, November 29th as we #OptOutside on Black Friday along with the rest of the world… despite the chilly temperature of NYC or whatever climate you find yourself at that time.

But wait… #OptOutside…I have heard this catch phrase and hashtag before. Well friend… you are correct! This was a phrase made iconic by REI since 2015 when they decided to close their doors every Black Friday (foregoing all sales), and encouraged 13,000+ employees and everyday shoppers to spend their time outdoors instead of shopping. #OptOutside was created as a movement to reconnect people with the outdoors, and I felt it was the perfect phrase to adopt for this project. If your interested, check out what REI is doing this year for #OptOutside and Black Friday, as they scale it up to Opt to Act , a platform for social action and reducing our environmental impact.

Also, you may be wondering what do I mean by the ‘outdoors’ after having written it 500 times. I believe the outdoors constitutes anything outside a building or shelter, where you can find yourself enjoying and consciously spending time in the open air. With this being said, it does not have to be the Appalachian trail or the legendary El Capitan, it can be a local park or small patch of grass by your office where you decide to spend time during your work breaks. Each person has a unique meaning and place which defines their outdoors, may it be a forest, mountain, ocean or city park.

Interested in joining the “Why we #OptOutside” project? Hurray! It is super easy to participate and all you need to do is to fill out the blog post questions (found here) and there you go. I believe the outdoors is a space for everyone to experience and thrive, and I would love to hear your story and what it means to you!

UPDATE (11.15.2019) Why we #OptOutside is officially live and running at it’s current website — https://www.whyweoptoutside.com/


Also if you are curious to read more about the connection between the outdoors and a healthier/happier self, below I have included some fun things to click on and explore:

Peter Maccario

Written by

I write about personal reflections, work habits, creativity and community-building • In a relationship with food and my bed • Freelance Life = for Hire •

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