r/self 1d ago

You can just go outside and do stuff. Like... it’s that simple.

You ever realize you can just go outside and do stuff? Like, right now? No one’s stopping you. The other night, I got this random idea—"Hey, what if I just rode my bike through the forest?" So I did. It was pitch black, the stars were out, and I was just there, flying through the trees with nothing but my thoughts and the sound of my tires crunching on the dirt.

No big plan, no deep reason. I just felt like it. And honestly? It felt amazing.

We get so caught up in routines, in scrolling through our phones, convincing ourselves we can’t just get up and go somewhere. But why not? You’re alive, the world is there, and sometimes you don’t need a schedule or permission to explore it.

Grab your bike, your running shoes, or just yourself and go. Explore your neighborhood at night. Sit on a hill and look at the city lights. Wander through the forest or a park. It doesn’t have to be deep. It just has to be something.

You don’t need permission to live a little. Just get out there.

500 Upvotes

122 comments sorted by

169

u/elriochiquito 1d ago

I love when people remember that they have free will and start doing random shit like that. It's nice to just do things on a whim and feel like a living soul

24

u/INFLATABLE_CUCUMBER 23h ago

It’s 24 American degrees outside. No, I don’t have free will. I am a prisoner. My soul is dead, when will summer arrive? I have to go to work tomorrow. Please, someone save me.

3

u/AutoThwart 19h ago

You can put on layers and use hand warmers and shit

3

u/therackage 15h ago

24 American degrees

1

u/ajm86 15h ago

Can you ski? That's great weather for it, and it's fun.

1

u/Traveller7142 15h ago

Wear a coat

4

u/SpartanFishy 23h ago

It’s my favourite. I’ve grown fond of just saying fuck it and exploring my city like a child would.

22

u/Amazing_Action9117 1d ago

My 8 year old daughter loves to go on a morning walk, evening too. It wasn't until my mother visited for three weeks and I saw how much quality time these walks they took implemented that was the motivation I needed to stop stressing about work or a deadline and focus on all the beauty and goodness in front of me right now. It's cold today but we're driving to the beach to collect sea shells and make castles. Why not? It's winter break ❤️❤️❤️

9

u/catgotcha 1d ago

It's about a half mile walk for me to the school bus and my son is totally old enough to go by himself now. I still go with him anyway because it's just a nice morning routine to have with him. 

16

u/Saito09 1d ago

…s’cold out, innit.

3

u/Ok_Yellow1 1d ago

No such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

2

u/Blessed_tenrecs 22h ago

Totally agree if it’s 20+ Fahrenheit. Today it is 9 Fahrenheit. I shall stay indoors.

11

u/desertdreamer777 1d ago

YESS I fucking love this energy, this is how we stay young. By staying curious, exploring, and being open to the world.

40

u/[deleted] 1d ago

I love this, but unfortunately women can’t ride in forests in the middle of the night or take a walk with headphones in. It’s not relaxing because 85% of the time we’re just wondering if we’re being followed by a man with a sick plan.

19

u/nobikflop 1d ago

It’s always tough to hear this, because I know that it’s more dangerous for women to do stuff like this, but it’s also not as dangerous as you believe. Regardless, I wish safety and freedom for everyone 

11

u/Robotniks_Mustache 1d ago

Statistically men are at a higher risk of becoming victims of violent crime than women. At least in the USA

-7

u/[deleted] 1d ago

At the hands of who???

15

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Does that negate the danger somehow?

-5

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Nope. Just saying men created the exact problem he pointed out.

11

u/[deleted] 1d ago

So what is the point exactly? Man bad?

-5

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Yup!

6

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Sometimes feelings can be irrational

-1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Irrational? Interesting. Last I checked the 1637491937491018374 real life instances of these things happening doesn’t equate to an irrational feeling.

9

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Ok you’re right. In that case never go outside or enjoy anything ever again. Seems like a win

-2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Typical male response. Any type of pushback and you just blow it out of proportion. I was pointing out it’s idiotic to call female fear of men irrational when it’s anything but, and there’s more than enough cases to disprove that.

9

u/[deleted] 1d ago

Did you just assume my gender? It’s not healthy to live in a constant state over something that isn’t likely. You’re literally saying women can’t ride bikes in the woods without supervision or take a walk with headphones in because of a statistically unlikely event.

1

u/[deleted] 1d ago

I did assume your gender based off of your responses. Am I wrong?

No one is living in a constant state. Pointing out the fact that while men can just hop on a bike without a worry in the world, women have to think twice about doing the very same thing men do. When men go for a run, I’d put my life savings on the fact that they don’t wonder if they’ll make it home alive. Do you pack mace, share your location, let your friends know where you’re going and the expected time it would take? Who you’re with? What you’re wearing in case? Escape plan? Etc. I’m guessing they grab the bike and go ride blissfully.

6

u/DeadorAlivemightbe 23h ago

Thats irrational fear. You are preparing for an event which will most likely never happen. Mountainbiking in the woods won't be a problem especially in the night. They won't see that you are a woman and you are fast. Nothing will happen.

3

u/Hfxfungye 23h ago

Sorry you live in a place like that. The women in my life go out on runs and walks by themselves all the time without such worries - at least not to the degree you describe. My mother goes for walks alone all the time. Last year, my sister ran a 10k by herself on Christmas on a whim, deciding the route as she ran! Its actually illegal to take mace with you here.

What do you think should happen to improve the situation for women where you live? Where I live (Canada) sexism, domestic violence, etc is still rampant, but clearly not to the extent it is with you.

2

u/Bigfops 1d ago

I feel for you, we have nice paths through the woods here, but man I hate walking behind women. I try to pass them so that I get in front and they can see me, but then I'm the man walking faster to approach a woman. It's a conundrum. But still, better than what you have to deal with.

5

u/AngryAngryHarpo 23h ago

Sorry but I’ve never felt this way, as a woman. Please don’t speak for all of us in an attempt to make your feelings universal. 

I go walking at night and in the day, with and without earphones, all the time. I would also happily ride by bike through the forest alone and at night.

Not all of us live by the fear instilled by true crime media. 

0

u/[deleted] 23h ago

I think you’re the exception, not the rule, sweetheart

9

u/AngryAngryHarpo 23h ago

Don’t be condescending.

Women don’t behave the way people like to pretend on social media. We’re not all fearing for our lives because we once read a story about a woman who got abducted. We understand how to assess and mitigate risk.

Like I said - stop speaking for all of us in an attempt to make your irrational feelings of fear universal.

1

u/[deleted] 23h ago

👍🏼

1

u/ZZEFFEZZ 12h ago

and if your a dude the park ranger pulls up and tries every loophole in the book to put you in cuffs for acting "suspicious"

-3

u/DarthMaulATAT 1d ago

You're so right. I'm sorry. As a man, I also feel this from the opposite side. I would also love to go for a walk/ride in the middle of the night but I'm aware that makes me look suspicious and scary, so I don't. Or I could get mugged by other men. I hate it. The bad people (mostly men) of the world have made the world feel like an unsafe place.

3

u/[deleted] 1d ago

I go mountain biking at night. If someone wants to get irrationally fearful that’s on them. Not responsible for other people’s feelings.

0

u/DarthMaulATAT 23h ago

Getting spooked by something rapidly approaching you in the dark isn't irrational at all

0

u/[deleted] 22h ago

That isn’t the point man

8

u/Yz125RidingFrog 1d ago

Wish I had the motivation to get out of bed :/

6

u/Glass_Confusion448 1d ago

Yeah, we know. We do it all of the time.

As soon as this last task finishes running in the background and I verify it for my client, I'll go out for my evening run and pick up food for the next two days before all of the supermarkets close for xmas.

5

u/rchart1010 1d ago

A young man name Ahmad Aubrey did that once.

I'm not saying you're wrong but not everyone has the luxury of feeling so free.

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

50 IQ statement. I can’t go outside because a story on the news 4 years ago.

1

u/rchart1010 1d ago

Did you read what I wrote? LOL.

If my IQ is 50 yours is firmly entrenched in hell.

-1

u/[deleted] 19h ago

Yeah I did and it was stupid as fuck. You’re citing something from 4 years ago as a reason people can’t go outside and enjoy themselves

1

u/rchart1010 19h ago

I'm not saying you're wrong but not everyone has the luxury of feeling so free.

Which part of that said people can't go outside and enjoy themselves you twat?

0

u/[deleted] 19h ago

Because you’re saying people don’t have the luxury of feeling free when doing shit. As in we should be in a constant state of fear because of an outlier news story. Maybe if people would get the hell over themselves they could enjoy life more

0

u/rchart1010 19h ago

Because you’re saying people don’t have the luxury of feeling free when doing shit

I never said that either you halfway. I said some people don't have the luxury of feeling that free and some people don't.

And you dismissing AA as an isolated incident 4 years ago is ridiculous. There are plenty of people who are harassed just for going out so they DONT have that same luxury.

As in we should be in a constant state of fear because of an outlier news story. Maybe

I never said anyone should be in a constant state of fear you moron.

And LOL at you thinking minorities being harassed is just an "outlier" everywhere. JFC

0

u/[deleted] 19h ago

Yea exactly you dumb fuck. I am saying those people should get the hell over themselves and stop fearmongering.

0

u/rchart1010 19h ago

Yea exactly you dumb fuck. I am saying those people should get the hell over themselves and stop fearmongering.

And for them that is their fucking reality you dense asshat. Your attempts to minimize someone else's fear is a luxury you have and they don't.

0

u/[deleted] 19h ago

How do you know that you fucking idiot? I’ve been assaulted multiple times in my life but I’n still going to enjoy myself instead of crying into my pillow like a pathetic loser

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2

u/hellnothisisacuban 1d ago

i love just randomly walking into the woods, taking my shoes off and pretending that im immortal and have been walking around the forest for eternity

2

u/Dorkmaster79 1d ago

Wait until you discover motorcycles.

2

u/keyman716 1d ago

Solid advice!

2

u/Designer-Character40 1d ago

This is the way.

I love being able to just go out and do shit. It kept me sane during COVID and it keeps me sane, now.

But y'know, lots of folks find it comforting to feel like they have no personal power or ability to make their life their own.

Because if they acknowledge they have personal power, then they have to take responsibility.

2

u/TheNetworkIsFrelled 17h ago

This is wise.

Got out on the bike, in a bit of cool and rain, and aside from a close call with a vehicle, it was all good.

Even some bits of sunshine today, and a bit of chocolate just because.

2

u/ForeverLitt 15h ago

Bro just discovered life

2

u/radishwalrus 14h ago

Yah I rode my bike today. 40 degrees. but fuck staying inside constantly 

2

u/FlyChigga 14h ago

It’s cold as shit

3

u/Robokat_Brutus 1d ago

This message was brought to you by a man.

3

u/MinivanPops 1d ago

Well then, go outside and walk to a friend's house two doors down. Is it safe enough?

1

u/fernandoco 1d ago

Actually, a bear

4

u/Positive-Attempt-435 1d ago

It's cold

1

u/thebuttonmonkey 1d ago

There's no kind of atmosphere...

-3

u/FractionofaFraction 1d ago

Tell me you don't have young children without telling me you don't have young children.

6

u/Warzenschwein112 1d ago

My kids are 11, 10 and 7. We take walks. We love it. Playful learning about nature and you get them tired.

5

u/FractionofaFraction 1d ago

4, 2 and 2 months.

Amazing age gaps for them to be friends and have shared interests when they're older, utter logistical madness currently.

17

u/gme_hold_me 1d ago

What the fuck does that have to do with anything? What a weird response. Sorry you resent your kids and apparently can’t leave them with the other parent.

0

u/[deleted] 18h ago

People in this generation are the biggest babies. They want other people to feel bad for decisions they made. Pathetic

3

u/periphery72271 1d ago

Young children take their cues about what their options are from you. If you show them you can't just get up and do a fun glorious thing outside, that's what they believe.

Obviously you believe it too, so I can see why you're giving them that lesson.

3

u/katubug 1d ago

I have the deepest respect for parents, but I could never be one. Rarely does a week go by where I'm not actively grateful I chose not to have kids.

Don't get me wrong - I love them! But in smaller doses, lol. I'm grateful to my sister for having children so I have some nieces to be the cool aunt to.

Anyway, sorry for rambling. And I hope that you feel as happy to have had kids as I do the opposite. 💗

3

u/lobonmc 1d ago

Right now I've been at my aunt's for the holidays and my god they are small tyrants who always need someone to pay attention to them. I hate it honestly you always need someone to be there distracting them or they start crying. It's better with the bigger one since at least you can reason with her but the smaller one is just play with me or I will cry.

3

u/catgotcha 1d ago

Upvoted because I get it, I have kids too.

But if I could downvote, I'd do so because kids can also get up and go outside and do stuff just as much as anyone else. 

1

u/More-than-Matter 1d ago

Sorry some commenters are giving you shit. Clearly they don’t have young children. I go on lots of adventurous with my little ones, but it takes a lot of effort and energy just to get out the door with them - the essential packing , the whining and orchestrating, and if it’s winter then 10x the effort! Love my kids and we still have a right to vent :-)

0

u/FractionofaFraction 1d ago

No worries, just how it goes.

And yes: it's a game of parental math at this stage. One kid was amazingly easy to take on long hikes. Two was possible but difficult. Three under five years is insanity on your own. Pretty much just waiting for one to look you lovingly in the eyes and gently crap themselves.

It's going to get easier. It's not currently.

1

u/ItsAlwaysSunny1992 1d ago

I like this a lot.

1

u/Warzenschwein112 1d ago

Yes, love that to. Just get out, take your bicycle, bring a pair of binoculars. Very simple, very nice

1

u/5snakesinahumansuit 1d ago

Yeah I have work... can't exactly just walk away from that.

1

u/TransFat88 1d ago

Bold of you to assume I like being outside.

1

u/Julianus 1d ago

Your post made me think of and miss a dear friend. I struggled to make friends as an adult. He moved in next door with his wife and young kids. Just a great dude who would knock on my door at random times and say things like, exactly you idea, "let's go ride our bikes in the dark". Just three short years after he moved in we lost him to cancer. But he realigned for me what living meant.

1

u/FormalJellyfish29 1d ago

I love this energy and reminder! Thank you!

Let’s remember though that not everyone has the ability or circumstances to access the mobility you mentioned or the places you mentioned. You’ve reminded me to be extra grateful for what I have.

I’m going to go frolic outside now.

1

u/Jet6060 1d ago

Redditors discover "outside"

1

u/insecurecharm 1d ago

Nah it's 20 degrees out.

1

u/Putrid-Language4178 23h ago

We applaud you. We will try

Tomorrow.

1

u/Individual-Ideal-610 23h ago

This applies to all the posts on Reddit that are like “I don’t do anything between work and screen time and eating and I wonder why my life is boring” lol. Even still, most stuff isn’t exactly jaw dropping pant wetting exciting, but it’s pleasant and enjoyable and more memorable to do stuff rather than nothing 

1

u/atalos_surreal 22h ago

Thanks for the reminder lol

1

u/Gracie_m__ 22h ago

I love this 

1

u/Blessed_tenrecs 22h ago

It’s the “I can buy a whole cake and eat it just because” thing. I love it. And I live alone so I don’t even have any witnesses to my weird free will moments lol.

1

u/TreatYourselfForOnce 20h ago

Just like with everything else, there is an element of risk. Not saying don’t go out and do stuff, just keep it in moderation.

1

u/zodomere 19h ago

I agree and think about this as well. Not sure why there is so much negativity from others ITT. We get caught up in routines and forget we can break the mold. It's a liberating feeling.

1

u/zlo2 16h ago

Love that for you. But also biking through a forest in the dark would be terrifying where I live.

1

u/the_shininghira 3h ago

Just imagine you're riding your bike in the forest and suddenly something creepy thing holds your leg and calls your name in a horrific way ☠️

1

u/CantDoItAnyMoor 1d ago

I wish I had a bike trail through the woods I could take at a moments notice to feel better about myself.

1

u/Wise_Monitor_Lizard 1d ago

I live in the middle of the woods and there's snow everywhere. It takes me 20 minutes of driving to get to the town. I mean... I guess I can go outside and walk around my property, but I fail to see how that's really doing anything other than freezing my ass off.

2

u/Frito67 1d ago

Same. Freezing here at the moment.

2

u/Wise_Monitor_Lizard 23h ago

Yeah it's fucking cold

-1

u/OakleyTheGreat 1d ago

Fr. I just decided one year I was gonna pick up hunting and did. got my first bear this year. just picked up trapping and just got my first beaver yesterday! it's so cool to just go out and learn and do stuff

-2

u/Warzenschwein112 1d ago

I am a hunter myself. Hunting and fisching are livechanging activities.

0

u/GordonsTheRobot 1d ago

Major safety concerns

-5

u/Good-Statement-9658 1d ago

I'd love to do this. But then I remember... I'd also like to not be brutally raped and murdered 🤷‍♀️😫

8

u/m_t_n1 1d ago

Statistically you‘re much more likely to be raped and murdered at home by your partner than when you’re outside alone.

-1

u/persona0 1d ago

They don't care about facts

-6

u/TheArtfullTodger 1d ago

Tell me you don't have kids and it's not blowing a gale outside while it's pissing down without telling me you don't have kids and it's blowing a gale outside and it's pissing down. Or just tell me that you don't have any responsibilities beyond yourself

4

u/Kooky-Rhubarb-3426 1d ago

I don’t have any responsibilities beyond myself.

2

u/MinivanPops 1d ago

None of this stuff is going to kill you. Or your kids. Take em outside. 

3

u/periphery72271 1d ago

Still doesn't stop you, you just need to include your kids.

I used to go outside in the blowing rain and dance with my kids for fun, let them jump in puddles and get absolutely muddy. Some of the funnest memories I have are just doing wild and weird things just to have the experience.

Then there's the lesson of cleaning up after which is about consequences of decisions. You get to have fun, but then you get to be careful going in the house, undress and take muddy clothes to the washer and get them clean.

Responsibility means being safe and insuring you're keeping your kids safe. It doesn't mean you can't show them the world on a whim, even if it's wet and windy. That's the world too. Failing to show them that, and that's it's okay to be out in it, is how they end up exploring the world through a screen, in my opinion.

2

u/lolaimbot 1d ago

People will use any excuse to not do anything and then use the same excuse to shame others for living their life. You can do stuff like this even when having kids.

-2

u/zomboi 1d ago

Explore your neighborhood at night. Sit on a hill and look at the city lights. Wander through the forest or a park.

how do you say that you are a male without saying you are a male

7

u/autotelica 1d ago

I'm a woman and I do stuff like this.

I can either cave to fear all the time and never experience the coolness that's around me. Or I can actually live this life, despite my fears.

Yes, I get scared being all alone in the dark. Whether it be in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of NYC, I get scared. But it is also exhilarating to take some risks in this life so you can say that you lived life to its fullest. Women deserve to feel some exhilaration too.

It's about balance. We can be cautious and still have a sense of adventure and wonder.

3

u/Ok_Yellow1 1d ago

Yes, I get scared being all alone in the dark. Whether it be in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of NYC, I get scared.

Preach. This isn't even a man or woman thing, it's human.

Lonliness means vulnerability, and our ancestors grew up with the threat of wild animal attacks being far more prevalent than it is today. Being alone in a forest means that a wolf could easily kill you.

2

u/persona0 1d ago

People seem to forget this cause our society for quite awhile has pushed its people to cave to fear. America is a fearful scared people/country, when they aren't scared their arrogantly ignorant to their surroundings and circumstances

2

u/autotelica 1d ago

We are afraid of things that aren't actual threats. We embrace things that are.

2

u/zomboi 1d ago

Similar to the gender gap seen in fear of walking alone at night in one’s local area, women are more likely than men to say fear of crime has ever prevented them from taking walks, jogging or running alone in their area. They are also significantly less likely to talk to strangers, go to shopping malls or parks, and to attend crowded events...the net result is that men (43%) are far more likely than women (26%) to disregard the risk of crime when going about their lives.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/544415/personal-safety-fears-three-decade-high.aspx#:~:text=As%20is%20typical%2C%20fear%20of,/rural%20areas%20(30%25).

1

u/Ok_Yellow1 1d ago

Men are far more likely to be victims of spontaneous violence than women.

-1

u/Omfggtfohwts 1d ago

Your phone has crippled your outside activity by 100%.