Teen-2-Teen

As summer ends, autumn in North Dakota still offers a variety of outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy. Finding entertainment and recreation is easy to accomplish all over the state, in both small towns and some of North Dakota’s larger cities.

Summer is here! When I asked my friends about their summer travel plans, one commented, “Why would I stay here? I am off to Florida.” With candor, he denied any possibility of traveling around North Dakota. Our state is often overlooked as a tourist destination, especially by our younger residents. Many overlook the vast variety in North Dakota’s natural and manmade features.

I have started a few business ventures, but I didn’t follow through with most of them. But there are two I worked on and was able to get established.

Have you ever been outside late at night and seen the sky full of bright, shining stars? How about a meteor shower or the dancing northern lights? If you have yet to experience seeing these celestial shows, there are plenty of opportunities to view these beautiful phenomenons in the upcoming year.

Thomas Jefferson once proclaimed, “The greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution.” I have recently contemplated this quote with much thought. It has resonated with me ever since I saw a poll that the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center conducted, which showed that over one-third of Americans, or roughly 37%, could not name a single right protected by the First Amendment.

Throughout human history, the acquisition of knowledge was a tedious and most painful objective. It required a devotion and fastidiousness to an abstract truth. Many a scholar was a poor pauper or monk, turning down what little comfort cruel reality proffered.

The second habit is exercise. Make a goal of going outside for a walk every day. Studies have shown that when you connect with nature, you are less depressed, especially during the winter months. I have made a habit of walking outside every day in sunshine, rain or snow, although my neighbors probably think I am crazy for venturing out on blustery winter days. If you need accountability, ask a family member or friend to meet you for a walk. If walks are not your thing, find something else that gets you moving on a regular basis and make it a part of your day.

The second habit is exercise. Make a goal of going outside for a walk every day. Studies have shown that when you connect with nature, you are less depressed, especially during the winter months. I have made a habit of walking outside every day in sunshine, rain or snow, although my neighbors probably think I am crazy for venturing out on blustery winter days. If you need accountability, ask a family member or friend to meet you for a walk. If walks are not your thing, find something else that gets you moving on a regular basis and make it a part of your day.

I am part of that 1 percent. Last year, I enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard. Why did I choose that path? I wanted to serve my country and follow in the footsteps of my Grandpa Jim Bitz, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. The National Guard will allow me to attend college tuition-free and have a civilian career while still serving my country.

Reaching out to young adults is one approach to address the problem of overuse of technology. But most can’t even imagine not posting every meal of every day on some social media platform. It is important to remind teens to get off their devices, go outside, breathe the fresh air and connect with people, places and the planet. There’s a more fulfilling world out there that goes well beyond a screen.