My name is Mish Sommers. I founded Happier Outside in 2014 as a way to inspire and connect people who love to spend time outside.

We know, and there is tons of research to support the idea, that spending time in nature and the outdoors makes a huge difference to our mental and physical health. Getting Outside Is Good For You. FACT.

There are so many metaphors that you can draw from in nature - growth, cycles of life, challenge, repose... the list goes on - and being outside, and being observant, reminds us of these lessons. Doctors are beginning to prescribe time in nature for people with mental health diagnoses, and for kids in general… Businesses are building nature areas into their workspaces. The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing”) has become a world-wide phenomenon, and Forest Kindergartens are popping up in Europe, Australia, the UK and right here in the USA.

Being outside regularly helps me to be my best self. I have found that every time I seek solace, or motivation, or a kick in the ass, I naturally head outside. I get back from a hike, swim, run, paddle, or even a simple outdoor meditation and I feel calmer, more intrinsically peaceful and (perhaps surprisingly) energized. It’s taken me years to honor that truth and really lean into it. With 2 kids, an entrepreneurial husband and a full time job I get that it’s easy to let things stand in the way of stepping outside every day, but I am regularly reminded that the practice of being outside is critical to our connection with self, community, and the world around us.

My wish for YOU is that you find time and space to get outside when you need it most - and also when you think you don't. It's one of the most affordable ways you can make a noticeable difference in your life. Come join one of our Happier Outside Programs if you’re in midcoast Maine, or check out the gorgeous inspirational clothing, homewares and accessories at our Store.

What is the Happier Outside Philosophy?

ACCESSIBILITY

Just go outside. That's all there is to it. Be prepared for the elements, have a can-do attitude, plan it out... do what you need in order to be happy out there... and GO!

Access to nature is critical for the well-being of our species - kids need to get outside every day... and adults do, too.

We need to breathe in fresh air, we need to see the natural hues of green and blue, we need to move our bodies, we need to see the horizon... these are all vital to our physical, mental, & spiritual health.

We don't need to hike a huge mountain, fjord a glacial river or do anything particularly strenuous to get the benefit of spending time in the outdoors.

A simple practice of 15 minutes outside every day is a great start to bringing nature and the outdoors back into your life. We don’t need one more thing to beat ourselves up about, so if you miss a day, or a few days, and then suddenly remember - be kind to yourself, and just begin again!

FUN (AND ADVENTURE)

You need fun in your life. And adventure.

Adventure is a... loose... term. For one person, an adventure could be walking down the street, following an ant trail. For another person, it's climbing Kilimanjaro. For you it could be showing up to a Happier Outside Tribe Event.

Whatever it is, for you, you need it. You need a little uncertainty...challenge...a focus on something that is bigger, and outside, of yourself because it keeps you inspired, curious, and helps you keep a balanced perspective. It keeps you fresh and ultimately, happy.

We encourage each other to step outside of our normal ways of being - sometimes this is a new trail, or an ocean swim, or a new physical skill we haven't tried before. For some folks, it's drawing or painting or creating something out of things found. For other people still, the act of coming together with strangers in the outdoors is an adventure in itself.

Being open to fun and adventure in your life makes all the difference in the world.

MINDFULNESS (NEW MINDFULNESS IN NATURE PROGRAM NOW OPEN!)

Mindfulness is a conceptually simple approach to everyday living that is not rooted in any dogma or religion. It’s a scientifically validated as a way to exercise your brain, and is a wonderful way to get connected with yourself and your surroundings.

There has been a recent upswing in research focus on the power of mindfulness and meditation, and while this research is relatively new, there are clear benefits being shown, including: boosting the immune system, a lowering levels of stress hormones, reducing blood pressure - it has even been shown to help mitigate depression, anxiety, ADHD, and age-related cognitive decline. One Harvard study showed that newbie meditators reduced their stress response and grew their gray matter in the areas of the brain associated with self-awareness and compassion after only 8 weeks.*

Practicing mindfulness or meditation in nature is a no-brainer. The combined impact of spending time in the natural world with a focus on breath/sounds/sensations is a powerful way to bring peace to our day.

*thanks to Dan Harris and the Ten Percent Happier crew for pointing out these findings!

INTEGRATION

So many of our outdoor experiences are isolated. A wonderful memory, that is surrounded by a life disconnected from the wisdom and perspective we gained at the time. These experiences get "parked" in our memory banks as something we did once, and it can come to feel as though a completely different person did it.

It's so hard to remember the lessons of the outdoors, and of nature, when we are so removed from it.

A Happier Outside practice is about integrating our experiences in the outdoors into our every-day.

This can be as simple as a weekly intentional gathering in the outdoors, or popping into someone's Facebook news feed, to as complex as an art project that gains prominence in a living space, or taking a break and attending one of our retreats.

When we integrate our love for nature and time spent in the outdoors with our usual habits and our everyday lives... that is when we feel the strongest effect, and our lives begin to change for the better.

COMMUNITY

We love people. We love to come together with others in the outdoors - to meet new people, to re-kindle old friendships, to find common ground and experiences, and to learn from others.

We SHOW UP more often when there are other people we have to show up for...

We get a re-charge from the energy that happens when a bunch of interesting and open-hearted people gather together. It's simply awesome.

Our belief is that an experience shared is an experience heightened.

COVID philosophy and Protocols

In line with our philosophies on Community, Accessibility, Integration and Fun… we approach our COVID protocols with an attitude of being willing to accommodate all perspectives, while ensuring the health and safety of all.

We request that all participants be fully vaccinated to attend - if this is not possible for medical reasons, we ask that you wear a mask for the duration of the program.

BRING A MASK WITH YOU TO ALL PROGRAMS!

At the beginning of each walk we have a practice of checking in about the comfort levels of our participants with regards to masking (vaccinated or not). We will ask that all participants be respectful of each others’ wishes with regards to these preferences. For example, if one person in our group would prefer that others wear a mask while talking to them, we’ll wear masks when near that person. And that’s cool!

If you are not comfortable with these protocols, and have already signed up for a program, you can receive a refund if you notify us at least 48 hours before the start of the session.