Hiking Obsession: A Hobby Turned Into A Lifestyle

So yes… my hiking obsession. Again.

What started as a “let me just get outside more” has morphed—no, mutated—into a full-blown lifestyle complete with gear spreadsheets, obsessive trail reviews, and a borderline concerning relationship with elevation gain.

Because of course it became an obsession—that’s just how I roll.

High on Hiking (and Definitely Not Meth)

And frankly, let’s all take a collective moment to appreciate the fact that my addictive personality latched onto hiking. Because with this level of compulsive energy, I could’ve easily ended up addicted to meth, gambling, or organised crime. Instead, I’m just out there, high on endorphins and elevation,  

The fact that hiking can be so seamlessly coupled with my equally obsessive pastimes—photography and blogging—is just a bloody win-win, isn’t it? Honestly, it’s like the universe said, “Here, have a hobby that lets you climb mountains AND overshare about it online."

I mean, I’ve been blogging for what feels like my entire life—back when it wasn’t called “blogging,” it was just called "thrashing something out at 2 a.m. because your brain wouldn’t shut up until you got it out of your system".

I’d pour my heart out, edit and re-edit until I’d finally reach that sweet spot of tortured satisfaction… and then hit publish on my free site. A site that was mostly just a digital diary read religiously by my one loyal brother and a single friend who probably felt socially obligated.

Naturally, I’d start questioning my devotion. Okay—obsession. Because nothing screams “emotionally unstable adult” like spending hours crafting heartfelt content for the same two people.

The Benefits of Hiking for Mental Health

So then came the dramatic sabbaticals—like an underappreciated pop star disappearing from the spotlight. Except with far less glitter. And since I wasn’t venting anymore, I became an absolute delight to be around.

And let me tell you something… if you think I’m a walking dark cloud in hiking boots now, oh sweet summer rain, you should’ve seen the pre-zenny hiking era. Those blogs were full-on emotional thunderstorms—blogs filled with poetic chaos that honestly should have been written in all caps, but somehow weren’t.

Hiking has done wonders. Now I still spiral, but I do it at altitude with a view.

So basically, this post is just a long-winded thank you. Thanks for being here, for reading, and for somehow making my glorified chaos feel like a thing that matters.

You’ve officially turned my compulsions into “content,” and for that, I’m irrationally, fiercely, and snarkily grateful.

THANK YOU FOR 1000 FOLLOWERS. Look at you all, voluntarily subscribing to my emotional blooper reel. Adorable.

Next up on the blog: “Why the Hell Do I Only Get 25 Likes?” A limited series in which 1,000 people nod silently while 25 remember the like button.