Stepping Out of the City and Into Nature
Today was my little brother’s birthday. We celebrated in a way that felt simple yet deeply meaningful: by going on a hike with our friends Nick and Cristina in the Surrey area.
We left the city around 8 AM, the air still cool and quiet, carrying that early-morning calm that only happens before the world fully wakes up. By the time we reached our hiking destination a little after 9 AM, the sunlight was just beginning to filter through the trees, casting golden ribbons of light across the trail.
It had been over two years since my last long hike. Between my triathlon training, work projects, and personal commitments, I hadn’t made time to get out of Ho Chi Minh City and immerse myself in nature. Being back in the UK gave me the perfect opportunity to change that.
The Joy of Moving Slowly
Hiking is a different kind of movement compared to my usual intense triathlon training sessions. There’s no stopwatch counting down, no intervals to complete, no sense of rushing to reach the next checkpoint. Instead, it’s just one step after another, letting the trail guide you.
For two hours, we wandered through Surrey’s green pathways, the air carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves. Birds darted between branches, their songs weaving through the quiet. Every so often, we stopped to take in a particularly beautiful view or to admire a patch of sunlight hitting the moss just right.
I even found a few wild berries along the way, their tart sweetness reminding me of childhood summers spent outdoors.
Time Well Spent with My Brother
The last time I saw my brother was back in February, during the Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday, when he returned home. That trip felt too short, as they often do. So today’s hike was a rare stretch of uninterrupted time together.
My brother had recently graduated and is now in the process of applying and interviewing for jobs. I remember being in his shoes, not too long ago, but long enough to have learned some lessons worth passing on.
We spoke about career paths, interview nerves, and the uncertainty that comes after graduation. His questions reminded me of the ones I’d heard just a week ago from students at the SEO-Vietnam event, where I’d been invited to share my journey. Like them, my brother is eager to do well, yet still figuring out where his passion and career might meet.
Conversations that Matter
One of the things I love about hiking is how it encourages deeper conversations. Walking side by side, without the distraction of phones or screens allows thoughts to flow more naturally.
We spoke about his hopes, the industries he’s interested in, and how to navigate rejection without losing confidence. I shared my own post-graduation experiences – both the struggles and the breakthroughs. We laughed about some of my early mistakes and celebrated the fact that we each have grown so much since those uncertain days.
Some might think a birthday celebration should involve fancy restaurants, big parties, or exciting trips. But there’s a certain beauty in choosing something quiet, meaningful, and restorative.
For my brother, today was less about blowing out candles and more about being together, feeling connected, and enjoying the beauty of a sunny day in London.
Lessons from the Trail
Today’s hike carried life lessons that I’m taking home with me:
1. Make Time for Nature
Life gets busy. Between training schedules, work, and social commitments, it’s easy to go months – or in my case, years – without stepping into a forest or walking a quiet trail. But nature has a way of restoring perspective.
2. Conversations Flow Better on the Move
There’s something freeing about talking while walking. It’s not a face-to-face interrogation. It’s a shared journey. That dynamic helps open up conversations about topics that matter.
3. Simple Celebrations Are Sometimes the Best
You don’t always need a grand plan to make someone feel special. Sometimes, the gift of your time and presence is more meaningful than anything else.
The Connection Between Hiking and Mental Clarity
As someone who spends a lot of time training for triathlons, I’m used to the mental discipline of structured workouts. But hiking offers a different kind of mental clarity. It was about letting thoughts settle.
Walking through nature today reminded me of mindfulness practices I’ve learned over the years:
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Paying attention to the sound of each footstep
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Noticing the changing texture of the ground
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Feeling the warmth of sunlight on my skin
These small observations act like an anchor, pulling you into the present moment.
Back in the UK – A Different Pace
Since returning to the UK, I’ve noticed how the rhythm of life here feels different from my pace in Ho Chi Minh City. There’s space to breathe, to take spontaneous day trips, to enjoy cooler weather and slower weekends.
In Vietnam, my weeks are packed – training before dawn, working through the day, and squeezing in social activities in the evening. Here, I’ve been able to embrace longer, slower mornings and days that leave room for unexpected adventures – like today’s hike.
Passing the Baton – Guiding My Brother
One of the most rewarding parts of being an older sibling is being able to guide, encourage, and sometimes gently nudge a younger one toward their goals. My brother is ambitious but, like many new graduates, he’s navigating a world full of unknowns.
As we walked, I shared practical tips:
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Research companies deeply before interviews
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Ask good questions during the hiring process
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Follow up with genuine thank-you notes
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Be open to opportunities that don’t look like your “perfect” job at first glance
But I also reminded him of something less tangible yet equally important: your career is not a race. It’s a series of steps – some forward, some sideways, and even a few backward – that all contribute to growth.
London isn’t always generous with sunny, warm weather, but today felt like a gift. The sunlight stayed with us from the first step of our hike to the final stretch back to the car.
By the time we returned, we were pleasantly tired, cheeks slightly flushed from the sun, and spirits lifted. My brother was smiling – really smiling – and I couldn’t help but feel grateful.
Why Days Like This Matter
Life will always have deadlines, obligations, and to-do lists. But days like today remind me why it’s important to pause. To say yes to spontaneous plans.
I may not remember the exact distance we walked or the names of all the birds we saw, but I will remember:
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The way my brother’s voice sounded when he spoke about his dreams
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The taste of the wild berries we found along the trail
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The warmth of the sun as we walked side by side
And that’s the beauty of days like this – they live on, not just in photos, but in the quiet, enduring ways they shape our relationships and our memories.