Rocky Mountain High

John Denver had it right.  When you're in the mountains, you get high. Not just physically high, but high on life. And they don't have to be the Rockies. Any mountain with fresh air will do.

I'm sure someone, somewhere in the world, has done a study on the mental/emotional health of people who live in the mountains as compared to people who live in urban areas where the air is not as fresh. If I did a study like that, this would be my hypothesis: People who live in mountains have greater clarity of thought and are generally happier than people who live in urban areas.

I believe this, because everytime I go up into the moutains, it's like I've taken some magic pill that produces instant euphoria. Now some people may say that I feel like this because I'm a Capricorn, so it's natural that I feel like this in the mountains. Not a chance. There are many people who experience this kind of euphoria as well,not because of their Zodiac sign, but because of the pure freshness of the air in the mountains that they are breathing.

Of course, the spectacular scenery of the mountains add to the euphoria, as do the smells of the plants and sounds of the animals in the area. But there is something different when you're way up high as compared to walking in the fresh air in the valley park below.

Maybe along with the euphoric whif of fresh mountain air, you also get a glimpse of a bigger metphorical perspective.