It's simple, really.... It just feels good. Maybe not in the knees, or my heels, or my shoulders when I wear a heavy pack. But I hike, because it feels good. Leaving behind the concrete jungle, and all the real-world problems we face daily feels good. Not having my cellphone distracting me by buzzing with (mostly) pointless updates, feels good. Fresh air in my lungs, and sunshine on my shoulders, feels good. Getting my heart working and endorphins rushing as I push myself up a steep hill, feels good. Rain on my skin, wind in my hair, spiderwebs in my face... well, most of it is great! And like anything else that feels good, the more you do it, the more you want to do it.... until it becomes a need. There's a chance I'm addicted to nature, but I won't be looking for a cure anytime soon. Call me a functioning addict.
Life can be stressful. It's definitely not a walk in the park and things can change in the blink of an eye. There are many resources at your fingertips to make your life as enjoyable as possible, but one thing we never get enough of, is time. If you have something in your life that feels good, do it as often as you want. Because there will eventually be a day when you're all out of time for walks in the park. Happiness is free if you make it yourself.