Finding Myself Again in the Wild: Recovery, Nature, and the Power of Trying New Things
By Kari Taylor, Executive Director of WMARI & The HILLS Recovery Center
Before recovery, I always wanted to be outside. I dreamed of hiking new trails, camping under the stars, and wading in quiet streams. I loved nature deeply, but during active addiction, those things felt just out of reach, like looking at something beautiful through a fogged-up window. I didn’t have the emotional energy, the resources, the gear, or often, the right people around me to make it happen. Addiction always seemed to come first, even when I desperately wanted something different.
Looking back, it’s no surprise that I lost touch with the outdoors. Planning a weekend camping trip is hard when you’re just trying to survive the day. And even when I had the time, the idea of doing it alone, or the fear of not knowing how, often kept me stuck. I kept telling myself “someday,” but someday kept slipping further away.
Recovery changed that. It gave me space to breathe, and slowly, I found my way back to the places that once made me feel most like me. Hiking, fishing, walking through the woods – those quiet moments became more than just hobbies. They became healing. Out there, surrounded by trees and sky, I didn’t feel broken. I didn’t feel like “the girl in recovery.” I just felt human. Free. Whole.
That’s why we created the Western Maine Recovery Outings program. We wanted to give others that same chance, free, low-pressure access to the outdoors, no matter where you are in your recovery journey. You don’t need to be a hardcore adventurer or own fancy gear. You just need to be open to showing up.
Whether it’s your first time on a trail or your hundredth, we offer activities that help people reconnect with nature, with each other, and often, with themselves. There’s something magical that happens when you’re outside. The pressure to talk or socialize fades. Instead, you’re just walking side by side, paddling the same water, or sitting around a campfire, and connection happens naturally.
And if you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to do something like that, but I’ve never had the chance,” this is your sign. Maybe you’re curious about snowshoeing, or you’ve always wanted to try kayaking. Maybe you just want to sit by a lake and breathe for a while. Whatever it is, you don’t have to do it alone…we’ll go with you.
What excites me most is how much the world of recovery has evolved. There’s a growing understanding now that there’s no one way to heal. There are many paths, many tools, and many experiences that can support your recovery. Traditional support groups can be life-changing, but so can finding a new hobby, spending time in nature, volunteering, or making art. Recovery is not one size fits all.
So, if you’re in recovery or thinking about it, I encourage you to try something new. Take a walk with us. Join an outing. Let yourself be surprised. You might fall in love with something you never knew you needed.
Nature helped bring me back to myself. It might do the same for you.