Showing Up, Living Now, and Letting Nature Work Its Magic: A Mother-Son Adventure
- Shannon Hurst
- Oct 17
- 5 min read
The Power of Showing Up
Some mornings start off on a heated note, and yesterday was one of those mornings. I had planned a mother/son day in the mountains, a chance to reconnect, laugh, and breathe in the wild beauty that always feels like medicine for the soul. My son, however, had other ideas. He didn’t want to come. I tried to let it go at first, saying, “Fine, I'll go by myself.” But the more I thought about it, the more I realized we hadn’t spent real time together in months. I decided to show up... for both of us.
After a tense exchange, he finally agreed to get in the truck, grumbling that he wouldn’t have fun. We headed to the Honda/Yamaha shop in Calgary to pick up fat tire e-bikes I had rented. While waiting, we explored the bikes, dirt bikes, and gear, even ordered a battery for our little dirt bike for the weekend. Slowly, the tension lifted. I could see him light up, his curiosity and excitement emerging, and I felt that unmistakable joy that comes from simply being present with someone you love.
Nature as a Reset
On the drive to Lake Louise, conversation flowed and laughter returned. We parked at the closed road parking for Moraine Lake, the road had closed for winter a few days earlier, leaving only a handful of other visitors in the area. Unloading the bikes, we hit the trail for 11 kilometres, biking down the mountain road, stopping often to take in the epic views of snow-dusted peaks, the last of the autumn colours, and the pristine valley below. It was obvious he was truly happy, his laughter echoing in the still mountain air.
When we got to the lake, we hiked to the Moraine Lake viewpoint. There were only about eight other people around, giving us a rare moment of calm, beauty, and solitude. He threw rocks far down onto the ice below and they bounced across the lake, creating a resonating vibration that was impossible to describe, a sound that made the mountains feel alive. Nature worked its reset magic... there was no crankiness, tension, or stress, it had all simply melted away.
Embracing the Moment on the Trail
Then came the Moraine Lake trail ride. As a first timer, I struggled to stay on the mountain trail, bouncing off rocks and almost colliding with trees, while he navigated effortlessly, beaming the entire time. Along the way at one of the view points along the lake, he noticed his phone had bounced from his pocket. He went back to try and retrieve it while I sat by the lakeshore, mesmerized by the epic peaks, glaciers, stunning water, and the quiet. Fully immersed in the moment, it felt like time itself had slowed down.
Luckily, he found his phone, and when he returned, we continued on to the end of the lake.
This is where he had the moment: the creek was already half frozen, and he asked me to video a section of ice where you could see bubbles passing underneath. Just like when he was four, he was captivated by the awesomeness of nature... fully immersed in the little “wows” it provides. We recorded the small section of ice together and watched the bubbles move peacefully yet almost awkwardly under the beautiful frozen surface for a while. We filled our water bottles with the ice-cold, pristine glacier water and took in the stunning views, reflecting on how much the glaciers had receded since our last mother/son week-long adventure six years ago.
Gosh, that was such a great trip. So grateful I made it happen and grateful for these moments with my kids. I know he didn’t want to come at first, but there he was... laughing, smiling, breathing in the epicness of nature, truly happy. We were together, and these are the moments I live for: my boys and I, immersed in nature, in the wow of the wild, just being ourselves and loving life.
On the way back, I got a little better at riding the trails, and we laughed so much. He even said more than a few times, “This is so much fun!” Imagine that… lol. So glad I forced the situation.
Moraine and Lake Louise: Contrasting Experiences
When we got back to the truck, we grabbed our pup Denali and rode up to Lake Louise so she could get some fun in too. The lake was pristine and glass-like and there were people everywhere, which is just the way it always is up there. We took our photos and talked about how different it feels to be in paradise and almost alone, like we just had at Moraine, compared to being in a sea of people.
The ride around Moraine had left us feeling like we had the mountains to ourselves... a rare and magical experience. Experiencing these moments reminded us how incredible it is to find these quiet pockets of nature and appreciate that we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The ride home was filled with conversation, laughter, and reflections. We stopped in Canmore at one of my favourite restaurants and enjoyed a fantastic meal. When we got home, my son was exhausted but content, happy, and recharged. When I thanked him for a great day, he smiled and said, “Yeah, it was pretty awesome!” For the win, indeed.
Reflections: Living in the Now
This kind of day reiterates my belief that nature is medicine, not just for the body but for the mind and heart. It reminded me that living in the now... fully, intentionally, and with awareness, is where life’s magic truly happens. It showed the power of showing up, even when no one wants to, and how sometimes you have to gently push your loved ones toward experiences that will feed their soul. Most of all, it reinforced that presence matters more than perfection... in parenting, in adventure, and in life.
Yesterday was a full reminder that life is made up of these moments: imperfect, messy, sometimes challenging, yet profoundly beautiful when you let yourself be immersed. The mountains, the stunning turquoise lakes, the frozen creeks, the laughter, the awe, the simple act of riding bikes together... they are the memories that stay with you, the moments that shape your heart, and the reminder to always live in the now.
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