No Plan. No Problem.
Why discomfort, detours, and unplugged weekends might be the medicine you didn’t know you needed.
🧱 A Therapist Without a Plan
I usually write these articles the day before they’re published.
There’s no cache of content. No queue of pre-written pieces waiting for their turn in the spotlight. No algorithm-optimized calendar. No mastermind arc. And definitely no bot churning out SEO-friendly headlines designed to funnel you into some overpriced product or service.
There’s none of that.
It’s just me—a therapist, a dad, a business owner, a writer—trying to make meaning in real time.
And at the start of this week?
I had no idea what I was going to write about.
some necessary context
Readers familiar with A Perceptual Shift know I tend to see the world through paradox. Parenthood is no exception.
Becoming a father has been one of the most incredible, life-altering, categorically beautiful experiences I’ve ever known. It’s also been one of the most humbling, anxiety-provoking, chaotic, and disorienting journeys I’ve ever lived through.
By nature, I’m a selfish person. I know that might sound strange coming from someone who became a social worker, then a therapist, and now a writer—but it’s true. I’ve always wanted to do things my way. Not in a manipulative or domineering sense, but in a fiercely independent one. I think many of us are wired that way. I only share this because it adds context to what I’m about to say.
Weekends are often considered “time off” from work. But for most parents, they mark the beginning of the real work.
Children learn by observing what we do—not what we say. If we’re not the ones actively modeling the kind of life we hope for them, someone—or something—else will fill that gap. And children, as I’ve written before, are some of the most honest mirrors we’ll ever face.
But this idea isn’t limited to parenting. It applies to all relationships—our partners, siblings, friends, roommates, coworkers. We set the tone for how people behave around us, and we influence the emotional climate of every space we inhabit. Whether we mean to or not, we are constantly teaching others how to treat us—and how to treat themselves.
he’s really just going to go on and on…
My father ruled our home with his hands—hands that worked hard and didn’t ask questions. He didn’t repeat lessons aloud. He didn’t offer long speeches or lectures. He lived his values, and I absorbed them by simply being in the room. I felt it—not just intellectually, but physically. Viscerally. Because he lived it, and I experienced it. And when words didn’t work, he made sure actions did.
I want to do the same for my family.
But I want to do it differently.
finally, we get to the point!
There’s something magical about the northeastern United States this time of year, specifically, southeastern Pennsylvania.
The mornings are warm—but not in that oppressive, mid-July way. The afternoons still beg for a lake swim or fishing rod. And the evenings? They’re what we wait all summer for. The humidity slips away. A gentle breeze picks up. You might even forget your phone exists.
As an ’80s baby, I grew up outside. Early, often, and until dark. Even after dark we played jailbreak (or manhunt, depending on the neighborhood). Sometimes I think I feel more at home outside than I do under a roof.
Being outside reminds you that you're part of something older, something wilder—something that doesn’t need an agenda. And if you're paying attention, nature has a way of putting you in your place—in the best possible way.
Everything outside is both beautiful and cautionary. You can't touch fireflies too hard. You can't tug too fast on a fishing line. You can climb the tree, but gravity is watching. Nature teaches boundaries without words. It humbles you simply by existing.
so we went outside
Without a plan. Without a goal. Without even hot dogs.
We spent the weekend outdoors—no spreadsheets, no strategy. Just the kids, some fishing rods, two bags of charcoal from the garage, a medley of stuff we’d get from Redner’s Warehouse Market and Walmart, and whatever the day decided to hand us.
We hit Green Lane Park on Saturday and French Creek State Park on Sunday. And while this wasn’t some grand therapeutic experiment or systems analysis, there’s something to be said for what happens when you let your body catch up to your mind in places like these.
If you’re local to southeastern Pennsylvania—or just passing through—here’s why both are worth your time:
Green Lane Park, Montgomery County, PA
Spans roughly 3,400 acres, making it the largest county park in Montgomery County.
Created through a partnership between Montgomery County and the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (now Aqua). The journey began in 1939, when 425 acres were initially set aside as Upper Perkiomen Valley Park.
Reservoir development followed: the dam across Perkiomen Creek was built between 1954–57, and by 1959, recreational access—including boating and shoreline fishing—was opened to the public.
Between 1983 and 1998, the land operated as two separate parks (Green Lane Reservoir Park and Upper Perkiomen Valley Park). In 1998, they formally merged into today’s unified Green Lane Park.
Park Features & Trails
The park features three bodies of water:
Green Lane Reservoir (~814 acres),
Deep Creek Lake (~38 acres), and
Knight Lake (~26 acres)
It offers over 20 miles of multi-use trails, welcoming hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and cross-country skiers. The Perkiomen Trail—a 19-mile multi-use rail trail—also begins here, following a former Reading Railroad line through the region.
Specific trail segments:
The Blue Trail is a roughly 12.4 km (7.7 mi) loop, rated easy, ideal for a leisurely 3-hour hike that loops around the reservoir.
Combining trails like the Blue, Red, Green, and Perkiomen can yield longer routes—perhaps up to 17 miles, depending on the path taken.
Beyond trails, the park includes playgrounds, picnic areas with grills, campgrounds (Deep Creek and equestrian), boating facilities, areas to fish and swim, and educational programming for all ages.
Hopewell Lake, French Creek State Park, Berks & Chester County, PA
French Creek State Park spans approximately 7,730–7,977 acres, making it the largest contiguous forested area between Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Established in 1946, much of the land—including Hopewell Lake—was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s as part of the Recreational Demonstration Area program. Many of the trails, roads, and park structures you still see today are thanks to their work.
The park lies within the historic Hopewell Big Woods—a region deeply tied to early iron-making and reforestation efforts, now recognized for its ecological and conservation significance.
Hopewell Lake: What You’ll Find
Size: Around 68 acres, this warm-water lake is a scenic centerpiece within the park.
Activities: Popular for boat rentals, recreational fishing, and shoreline exploration—making it perfect for family outings or quiet reflection.
Trails & Outdoor Options
The park offers 35–40 miles of trails, spanning hiking, equestrian, biking, and more across varied terrain.
Notable trails around Hopewell Lake include:
Hopewell Lake Loop: A gentle, scenic loop of around 2.2 miles—great for a casual walk alongside the water.
Boone Trail: A more moderate 6-mile loop through creekside forests, offering some elevation gain and excellent wildlife-viewing.
Additional routes include:
Lenape Trail (5.5 miles, loop),
Buzzards Trail (3 miles),
Mill Creek Trail (6 miles, more difficult terrain),
Raccoon Trail (1.7 miles, connects to Hopewell Furnace site),
Horseshoe Trail (8 miles within the park’s portion)—offering a range of experiences depending on your energy and mood.
conclusion: what we forget when we stay inside
Going anywhere—whether by yourself, with a partner, your kids, or a whole caravan of people—is rarely easy.
There are logistics. Schedules. Competing preferences. Forgotten gear. Snack meltdowns. Weather. Bugs. Someone's always hungry, tired, or over it.
And if you let yourself, you could get stuck in the friction. You could stare at all the little obstacles and forget why you left the house in the first place.
But if you push through the static—if you stay long enough to let the day unfold—you start to see it.
The way the sun hits the lake.
The way your teenagers forget they’re fighting.
The way your own nervous system exhales when no one’s asking anything of you for a minute.
If you only see the problems, you miss the beauty.
And sometimes, just sometimes, the unplanned days are the ones that end up meaning the most.
a shameless plug (or two)
I usually close these articles with a plug for my practice—A Perceptual Shift. So here it is:
I offer services—therapy, supervision, consulting—that are worth pursuing. I perform them honestly and without apology, at a rate I believe is both fair and competitive. If you or someone you know could benefit, I hope you’ll reach out.
info@aperceptualshift.com
But here’s a second plug, and it might be even more important:
Go outside.
Seriously. You’re reading this article, which means you have an internet connection. When you're done—and after you sign up for a paid subscription, of course—type your ZIP code into Google, look up a local trail, park, or body of water, and go.
Not in five minutes.
Not in thirty seconds.
Right now.
You’ll thank me.
Your nervous system will thank me.
And the version of you that remembers how to be fully alive? That version will thank me too.
I love you all!
📚 References & Resources
Green Lane Park (Montgomery County, PA)
Montgomery County Parks – History of Green Lane Park
https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/2190/History-of-Green-Lane-ParkMontgomery County Facilities Directory – Green Lane Park Overview
https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/facilities/facility/details/green-lane-park-3NJHiking – Trail Reviews and Loops in Green Lane Park
https://www.njhiking.com/nj-hikes-green-lane-parkHiiker App – Blue Trail Map at Green Lane Park
https://hiiker.app/trails/pennsylvania/montgomery-county/green-lane-park-blue-trailGreen Lane Borough Community Recreation Page
https://greenlaneborough.org/community-classic/recreation
Hopewell Lake / French Creek State Park
Wikipedia – French Creek State Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Creek_State_ParkAllTrails – Hopewell Lake Loop Trail
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/pennsylvania/hopewell-lake-loopPennsylvania DCNR – French Creek State Park Official Site
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/recreation/where-to-go/state-parks/find-a-park/french-creek-state-park.htmlTourist Secrets – Reel in Adventure at Hopewell Lake
https://www.touristsecrets.com/destinations/united-states/pennsylvania/reel-in-adventure-at-hopewell-lake-in-french-creek-state-parkNational Park Service – Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy in Recreation
https://www.nps.gov/hofu/learn/historyculture/ccc.htmWikipedia – Hopewell Big Woods Conservation Region
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell_Big_Woods