1. Where can people follow you online, and who are your followers?
I’m on IG @jaymes_blythe. I follow folks who are posting genuine content that inspires me to become a better person and pursue my passions. Likewise, I think many of my followers found me for the same reason. Most of my posts are from my outdoor adventures.
2. How long have you been actively using social media to share content?
At least 15 years. My first IG posts were pics of my beagle and my garden in 2012. Prior to that, I was posting on Myspace, Flickr, and Facebook!
3. What led you to begin using social media as a platform, and how do your outdoor adventures fit that platform?
I began travelling internationally during college, and social media was the only way to maintain new friendships while also sharing my life with loved ones from afar. This is around the same time I really started to adventure in the outdoors throughout South America and Europe. Naturally, this outdoor theme would weave itself into my life and social media platform. The feedback I heard the most was how much people enjoyed living vicariously through me, and it encouraged me to continue sharing.
4. What does nature and the outdoors mean to you?
Nature delivers a gift you cannot find in anything else, and it’s nearly impossible to define. It has the power to invigorate all five senses and restore your entire being with just a day trip dose. When I adventure in the outdoors and work hard to see and feel something so incredibly beautiful, this gift becomes twofold. It gives me the opportunity to challenge my mind and physical body and lets me venture outside of my comfort zone. This is where strength and confidence are built, where timeless friendships are made, and where many belly laughs are had. It’s simple, and it strips you to the core. It’s therapy and healing from the everyday hustle and bustle.
5. How do you think social media and other communications can influence good stewardship of the outdoors?
It doesn’t take a reputable source to influence others, and some influencers out there don’t use the best practice. It doesn’t mean they are wrong, they are just uneducated. As more beautiful outdoor spaces become exposed and easier to access, more focus should turn to protecting them. There is a need and place for this on social media. If we can communicate in a fun, positive way that is also inclusive, we can make a difference in how these beloved outdoors spaces are being treated.
6. What else do you want people to know about you?
I’m always down for an adventure! So give me a follow, and I’ll see you out there!