I smiled when I saw this message in my inbox this morning. It brought me right back to my time at Mount Holyoke College when, on one bright and sunny fall day, the chapel bells would ring out signaling the cancellation of classes for a once-a-year tradition: Mountain Day.
The message today included this challenge: “Although you may not be able to join President Pasquerella, and the MHC community for a noon ice cream celebration, you can still evoke the unexpected freedom of Mountain Day: give yourself an unscheduled day off, open your windows, get out of the house or your office for a walk, eat ice cream for lunch, or call a classmate to reminisce.”
I’ve already opened my windows and will get out of my office for a walk. What unexpected freedom can you reward yourself with today?
Happy Mountain Day Jane!
I loved this day at Smith and hold it as one of my fondest memories. I threw open the windows to my office, wrote a post with lots of fall photos of the Berkshires and then took a long, slow afternoon walk through a local pumpkin patch. It wasn’t quite the Mohawk Trail or Mt. Tom, but it was a start. Thinking about taking my family for our own Mountain Day to Litchfield or Kent this weekend…could be a new tradition.
Hi Jane,
I rewarded myself so that I made a choice and took a day off to take a test about my non-job related skills.
Very liberating, to do something I want to do, not something I’m supposed to do.
wed. became a beach afternoon at hammomassett state park ( 15 min. from me-yet i hardly get there)…it is free pre and post summer season..void of crowds..nature walks and meditation opportunities..it was a perfect “mountain day”.
@Catherine, Darja and Elaine
So glad Mountain Day struck a chord with you! Thank you for your comments.