Books in Real Life, Episode 7: Happiness for Beginners

It's a new month, and a brand-new edition of Books in Real Life! Rachel & I created this feature in order to challenge ourselves to do the things we've read about in books in real life. I'm really excited about this month, as we're featuring one of my favorite adult reads from this year, Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center. The novel is about Helen, a divorcee who signs up to participate in an extreme wilderness survival course in the hopes that it will change her life -and it really does!

Hiking is something I rarely choose to do, as I'm not a very physically active person. I like being out and surrounded by nature however, and I've hiked Bear Mountain before, so I was looking forward to visiting again! It was a lovely day for a hike, with blue skies, a cool breeze and warm sunshine keeping us company, along with our lush green surroundings. Rachel & I spent our walk alternating between chatting about anything & everything, and silently taking in what was around us. We were both tired and sweaty when we finished, but it was really fun!

1. What was your favorite part or a memorable moment? I really enjoyed seeing the view from the top! It's always awe-inspiring to be confronted with the beauty of nature, and I soak up every second when it happens to me.

2. Anything you wish you'd known beforehand? I wish I had remembered how taxing the path can be! It's pretty steep, so it would have been a really good idea to stretch a little bit first before even attempting to tackle it.

3. Would I do this again? I'm sure it'll be happening at one point or another in my life, since a lot of my friends and my little sister are very active people who enjoy a hike every now and then. Plus, I would not be averse to returning in the fall!