I grew up in a very car-centric region, but moved to Portland a few years ago and have since reconnected with what it means to experience my environment on foot and on bike. I’m blown away by this city – everyone seems 20 years younger than they are. Why are the “old” people so young? I think it’s a combination of this region seriously promoting active, healthy lifestyles, and the idea that when we really feel what it means to intentionally interact with our environment, we feel younger, more vibrant, more balanced.
Whether it’s smiling and wishing a good morning to my fellow cyclist on the way to work, or noticing the intricacies of certain flowers and plants while on a walk – these are experiences that make me feel full of life. There will never be a shortage of these encounters on foot or on bike, and I feel they’re a lot more substantial than the interaction that takes place when I’m in a car.
I came to Alta from a Portland non-profit environmental foundation; I came with a passion for living a low-impact lifestyle, promoting positivity and sustainability, and the knowledge of how important it is to have real balance in my life. Being a part of what Alta does (which happens to promotes all these things), is a real win-win.
