This week’s Sunday Stills theme “I’d Rather Be…” implies something you wish you were doing instead of doing something else, or would rather be somewhere else. Maybe challenge yourself with the question “Would you rather walk on the moon or visit the bottom of the ocean…for example? This theme has endless possibilities for you to explore and share!

In the meantime, Spring has officially awakened in the northern hemisphere!

Spring tree buds
Tree buds pop out!

After a long winter where snow fell over five months (Nov-March!), I was at the point where I would rather be anywhere than in the dark. The onset of snow and winter is fun until Christmas, but by January, I’m done!

As I patiently waited for signs of spring, I looked through tons of image archives which helped me design the theme for this post. I hope you enjoy my walk down memory lane as I recall spring and autumn days of hiking and the fond memories I enjoyed engaging with my university students from back in the day.

Teaching the Concept of “I’d Rather Be (or Do)…”

Back in my university lecturing days, I had the honor of teaching recreation and parks management courses at Sacramento State University for 10 years. My creativity flowed with ideas to demonstrate the importance of leisure to college students who were non-majors. I had the bright idea to teach students about spontaneous play, by giving each student a small vial of bubbles. Before class ended we walked to the nearby Guy West Bridge and proceeded to play!

Students lined up to blow bubbles
University students get a lesson in spontaneous play.
Sac State University students crowd the pedestrian bridge with their bubbles!
My university students crowded the pedestrian bridge with their bubbles!
Bubbles and Coffee on a Spring day

Most adults are taught that play is only for children. On this softball field managed by my former parks and recreation department, we hosted adult sports leagues as well as adult groups who enjoyed playing kickball. Their shirts say it all!

Adults playing kickball
Playing Kickball

In addition to university-sponsored activities on and off campus, students in my courses engaged in a variety of activities and then wrote essays about their experiences.

A full day at the University’s Challenge Ropes Course introduced students to the concepts of leisure, play, motivation, fear, and taking a leap of faith. Their subsequent essays were quite wonderful to read.

Sac State student deftly walks the high ropes course at the Challenge Center.
Student deftly walks the high ropes course at the Challenge Center.
Students carefully "walk" their feet on the climbing wall.
Facing fears
University students climb the Challenge Ropes Course
University students climb the Challenge Ropes Course
Student takes the "leap of faith" 40 feet in the air at the Peak Adventures Challenge Ropes Course in Sacramento.
The Leap of Faith at Ropes Course
Challenge Ropes Course
Challenge Ropes Course

I enjoyed getting in on the action by crossing this bridge, too!

I am on the catwalk

“When you cross a bridge, you take a break from this world!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

Other classes tried their hands at the university’s aquatics center located on Lake Natoma, 10 miles from campus.

College students kayaking for first time
Walking the tightrope over the lake
Having a watery good time at Lake Natoma obstacle course.
Dock
The dock at Lake Natoma is at your leisure

Just look at this student’s smile as she tried the water bike for the first time!

All smiles on the water bike
All smiles on the water bike

After a fun morning with the students, you would find me borrowing a stand-up paddle board for a two-hour SUP session.

SUP transportation

After all, I had to practice what I teach!

After students faced their fears and tried new activities on the challenge course or at the aquatic center, they wrote essays on their reactions to their new experiences. Many students admitted they were excited to try more recreational activities and to change their perspective on what, where, or how they’d “rather be.” Lessons learned.

I’d Rather Be…Hiking!

“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand, or foot in boot.” ~ Diane Spicer

Ready for the Slot Canyon in Valley of Fire
Hiking in the Valley of Fire, Nevada

I know, I hike almost every day, which is pretty much my go-to exercise. Trust me when I say it has been a challenge with all our snow this winter. With most of the snow melted, I can now take much longer walks around the neighborhood and hike into the nearby hills.

The Bowl and Pitcher area in Riverside State Park is close to home and a fun destination to take folks when they come to visit us.

Bowl and Pitcher Suspension bridge
Marsha walking the bridge
Suspension Bridge at Bowl and Pitcher
Suspension Bridge at Bowl and Pitcher
At Bowl and Pitcher
Us with the dogs
Us at Bowl and Pitcher State Park
With Cheryl
Bowl and Pitcher Rocks
Bowl and Pitcher
Hiking at the Bowl and Pitcher

My bride-to-be daughter and her fiance enjoyed their visit in 2021.

Couple enjoying the Bowl and Pitcher, WA

“If you are losing your leisure, look out! — It may be you are losing your soul.” ― Virginia Woolf

Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week

Each week I am inspired by my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I enjoy incorporating these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

This Week’s Featured Bloggers

Sunday Stills is a wonderful community of bloggers and photographers who desire to connect with one another. Below are this week’s links from bloggers who shared their “I’d Rather Be” photos. I add these all week as new links are posted.

A huge thank you to all of you who shared your GREEN posts last week. I can’t wait to see what inspires you this week with your “rather be” ideas!

New here? Subscribe to Second Wind Leisure Perspectives to receive my weekly posts.

Go exploring have a great week

© 2022-2031 Copyright — secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved

Published by Terri Webster Schrandt

Mostly retired, I am a part-time reporter/photographer for a local monthly newspaper. I'm former university adjunct faculty, self-published author, and retired recreation and parks practitioner living in Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle that includes fitness, photography, and fun.

131 thoughts on “Sunday Stills: I’d #Rather Be….”

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  4. That’s exciting getting a chance to try all those activities Terri – how brave you were with the “tightrope” walking. I really liked the quote you used: “If you are losing your leisure, look out! — It may be you are losing your soul.” ― Virginia Woolf

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  17. Don’t tell anyone, but I enjoy blowing bubbles too, Terri. Luckily, my great-niece always leaves her bottle of bubbles here when she visits. I always have to go and buy a replacement before she visits again.

    Well done for walking that bridge high up in the trees. Did you always look ahead, or were you tempted to look down?

    Good to see those first buds of spring. It must be a welcome sign, although I’ve experienced more white Easters than white Christmases – just saying. Who was it that said, ‘April can be the cruellest month.’ He/she was right.

    But whatever the weather, keep smiling and making people smile, Terri.

    See you tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday.

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    1. Let’s hope April won’t be too cruel, Hugh, at least this year while we’re traveling. I experienced my first white Easter last year–jut a dusting but it was surely the coldest one I’d experienced. The tree buds are awakening–the news showed someone’s crocus blooming.

      Getting college students to blowing bubbles was strangely easy although I noticed a LOT of sheepish grins 🙂 On that bridge, I remember the course staff telling us to look toward the other side–better to do! See you on Wednesday!

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  18. I was interested to read about your experiences teaching your students about the values of adult leisure activities – values you clearly espouse yourself with your SUP and hiking activities!
    Of course you already know my response to ‘I’d rather be ..’ will be ‘travelling’ 😆 SO in a way almost any one of my posts could fit this theme! However I’m sharing my latest Colombia post in a triple-dipping fest: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/a-wander-through-getsemani/ 😏

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    1. Hi Kirstin, it looked fun, I didn’t try it. Both the aquatic center and challenge course were operated by the university and offered high quality services to students and the community.
      The paper is the South Stevens County Times.

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  20. Perfect prompt when so many of us are done with winter and eagerly awaiting spring. Even though we don’t get the snow (or atmospheric rivers) I would like my yard to dry out a bit. It is possible to overwater succulents 🙂

    Every time I see your pictures of the classes you taught in the field of recreation (who knew there was a whole field dedicated to recreation? I didn’t), I think that I definitely pursued the wrong major 🙂

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    1. My daughter said SD was getting rain this week. Hopefully things will dry out soon because we have a wedding to attend on April 1st! I hadn’t known about the parks and rec major until 2 failed major attempts while attending Grossmont College in 1978-79. I wanted to work outdoors in the National parks, but found Cal State’s rec majors in various cities. There are several concentrations including public agency management, park resource mgmt, therapeutic recreation, then the whole commercial, hospitality and tourism side. I was smart to get into it in 1980 once I moved to Sacramento 🙂

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  26. What a fun post, Terri. There’s nothing quite like expanding our experiences and testing our bravery to try new things. Those students must have loved your classes! I love hiking and physical challenges when safely undertaken. We are often so much more capable than we believe. Great job walking across the log! 😀 A super fun post.

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    1. Thank you, Diana! Our university’s department had many talented professors. I was among a few who had careers in the field and brought our experiences to the classroom. Those 10 years of teaching were some of the best times of my life.

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  27. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Corte Pequena | Still Restlessjo

  31. You are such an inspiration. I bet your students adored the days of play under your instruction. Bubbles!! Who doesn’t love bubbles, when they allow themselves to just let go and have fun. I remember sitting with my grands during the pandemic and being able to remove our masks long enough to blow bubbles. I wanted to blow them by the hour.

    And hiking. We were keen on hiking for a couple of years and then PC began having back problems. I sometimes wonder if we would just go back to it, on a smaller scope to start, if his back issues would improve. Being outdoors always makes me feel better. No matter what we are doing and where we are.

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  32. Great post photos and theme Terri. I find it interesting that you say that “Most women can’t grab and hold on” when leaping to the trapeze bar. I wonder why?
    Anyway I had fun composing my post 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Brian! I’m glad this theme has resonated with people and I’m loving the clever posts and fun comments! Women generally have less upper body strength to hold onto the bar, especially grabbing from a height with gravity at play. But, hey, we can try, right?

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  35. Terri,
    A teacher who leads a class in blowing bubbles is a treasure. I never had one like that, and I can’t even remember a class outside of a classroom except for ROTC. Good to know that Spring is heading your way. Maybe you can hustle up a kickball game! Loved this post. Have a great week. Joe

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    1. Thank you, Joe! Experiential education was a big thing at our university! Our temps today got to 58F! Everyone was outside today, it was neat to see them and kids riding bikes down our street! I actually loved kickball ❤️

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  36. Great ideas, Terri. I have tried the rock climbing wall but the ropes look super scary. Was that you leaping from rope to rope hoping to catch one and not fall into the ravine? I love the t-shirts. We should have some special t-shirts for our visit! LOL Is that the last picture in your gallery of shots at Bowl and Pitcher, your daughter and you? You look like sisters! This is a very fun post!

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    1. Thank you, Marsha! You’re so full of questions! No pictures of me leaping for the trapeze this time, the climb is the scariest part for me–but jumping off in full harness is fun! The last shot in the gallery is one of my friends from Sacramento, the very last shot is Lauren with her fiance. My neighbor reads my blog and she told me today she did a tri-level zip line somewhere–I would do that!

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      1. I’d have to be very sure that it would hold! I have gone parasailing, though in Hawaii. I went up after two little girls about aged 10. LOL I figured if they were brave, I would be, too. The seat was tight, but it was so quiet up there, I got itchy to get down and talk to someone.

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  38. I love that you got to teach students how to play Terri! What a great concept. Your photos show clearly the importance of having fun and using our leisure time. I’ve been at a Rotary training session all weekend at the beach and the views from the windows of the blue sky and water made me wish I was outside and not stuck inside!! I’ll try and write a post 🙂

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  41. That Bowl and Pitcher area looks very beautiful for a hike, Terri. I’m not very sporty and the only thing I can do effectively is walk, but I might be tempted by the water bike. And I could definitely blow bubbles! Have a great week, and thanks for the link.

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    1. We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful area so close to home, Jo. Walking is the best thing we can do for our bodies, I agree. Thanks for checking my post out today, I’ll link it properly Monday morning 😄

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  44. I couldn’t be happier than to say there’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here these days Terri. Now come July I’ll be changing my tune LOL! Excellent topic for the week, very creative. Loved the post

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  46. Terri
    Fantastic post and once again I like how you mange to cohesively connect themes – like the bridge and spring and your own – etc
    Also – enjoyed your memory lane sharing and seems like you were an engaging teacher that left lasting impressions !!

    Liked by 1 person

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  47. Excellent idea for a topic Terri! Truth be told, right now there’s truly nowhere I’d rather be and nothing I’d rather be doing than enjoying early spring on Kiawah. Flowers are blooming everywhere, the beach is perfect for walking and the bike path for biking. Soon the tourists will set in so this is a favorite season for all of our residents – at least all the ones I know! Wishing you warmth and sunshine in the coming days!

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    1. Thank you, Tina! You might remember seeing the occasional license plates that read “I’d rather be” … fishing, or whatever. that might have nudged my inspiration for the theme, LOL! I can imagine that Kiahwah this time of year is magical since tourists haven’t yet descended!

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  51. Pingback: Ka’u Desert Trail | Graham's Island

    1. That’s a great question, Liesbet! No to both, but I was fortunate to have those times in my life. Both brought great joy to me over the years, but I’d rather be here in Eastern Washington surrounded by pine trees, mountains, wildlife, and endless trails 👣

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  58. What a wonderful life you’ve led. I’m sure not without challenges, but you have lovely memories of nature’s power. Mine was more likely to be spent indoors studying, researching, working, reading. Which I have no complaints about.

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    1. Thank you, Jacqui! I loved being a part of academia and teaching leisure and recreation concepts to young people both in and out of the major. All you research leads to the amazing books you write and opens doors that many would never explore.

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  60. This reminds me of my realization that a perk of having a youngster around was now I could play again and no one would think it was odd. I could skip as we walked, play hide and seek, and of course blow bubbles. So much fun in simple playtime. And thank you for sharing our bowl and pitcher photo. I loved that visit and that you shared such a lovely place with us…I’m also envious that you have such a grand area like the bowl and pitcher nearby to escape to as often as you desire. Spring is showing itself here too. Teasing us with sunshine and warmer temps as made for an enjoyable weekend before the next round of rains storms.

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    1. It does help to have a kid around, but I decided that I just let myself go and enjoy the outdoors in my own dorky way. It helps that Hans likes to have fun too. I’m glad I could take you and Steve to that spot. I want to go back after our trip once the river starts roaring through. We are supposed to get rain this week, but rain here is rarely a steady, wet kind. Enjoy your spring weather, Cheryl!

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  61. Wow, Terri I’m exhausted just looking about your photos 😉 Did you manage to keep your balance on the log bridge? I’d probably have been swinging at the first step! Great action photos!

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    1. Thank you, Cathy, LOL! Balancing was interesting especially that I was in my mid-50s at the time–the harness helped and the log was wider than expected. My students encouraged me–I also jumped off the “leap of faith” challenge to grab for the trapeze bar. Most women can’t grab and hold on, so down you go–slowly due to the harness and the staff person holding the rope. It was fun to be a part of all that.

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  62. I’m jealous you have tree buds sprouting!! The smiles on the people’s faces in all of your photos made me smile. Such fun to try new things and explore places – your post has great vibes! The bride-to-be and her finance look so happy too – I bet you’re getting so excited for the big day!! Spring is on its way, I hope to see more signs of it in my neck of the woods soon. Enjoy your week, Terri!!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you, Shelley! That tree bud image was taken in Hood River Oregon 2 weeks ago, but we do have tree buds slowly appearing on our quaking aspens–you reminded me to go out and grab a pic! I had fun as a college lecturer–it was the joy of my life!

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