This time of year is one of my favorites and it is because it is so nice where I live to be outside. The cooler weather that Fall brings allows me to enjoy what brings my soul the most joy and that is being in the great outdoors. One area that really pumps me up for life is heading to my favorite local parks and enjoy the trails. This is one area that worried me when I got out of my ostomy surgery because I was afraid that I would not be able to hike or jog my favorite trails again. Luckily, I was all afraid for no reason and that is something that I strive to share with all new estimates. The fact that you have a stoma now means that you have a few extra routine changes through the day, but that your life can still be as active or enjoyable as you wish it to be. For myself, I love to plan out fun hikes and strive to really have the best gear possible for my stoma.
So one thing I think is important is to stay up on the best gear available. You may even find that there is a whole new ostomy set up that may work better for your body and the task that you are planning on doing. I like to personally keep my eyes and ears open to all different aspects of this industry to see what is available and if I am missing something. One location that usually seems to keep me up to date is the social media world. This is a vast and crazy fast-changing industry and I have always been able to find lots of people who live with a stoma and are willing to share their journey.
The best part is finding people on the social media channels that like to do what you do. For me, I like to find outdoor people who enjoy hiking, bushcraft, and backpacking. I have learned more from these people than probably anyone else and that is because they are doing what they enjoy and showing how they are doing it. The truth is my body is different from many of them and how my stoma is on my abdomen is different. That means a lot of the tips and tricks that they do are not applicable to me but a lot of their successes and failures are truly applicable and I am so happy to share in their journey and to be able to chime in as well. That is what i really like about social media is that most people are able to have a say and I have had some great discussion and learned some cool things.
The ultralight backpacking scene has actually influenced people with stomas greatly because we can use backpacks with no hip belts and keep things ultra-lightweight in order to carry our extra ostomy gear. Adding all of their tips and tricks into my life has allowed me to see more and enjoy lots more time in the great outdoors. It has also built my confidence up because I have seen people fail and know that I can succeed because they are willing to teach. That is so cool and I hope you try enjoying the outdoors as well.
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