Back to Basics

No matter how technologically advanced and civilized we become as humans, nature will always possess the power to fascinate and inspire us with its simplicity and beauty. As the Industrial Revolution was taking root in England way back when, people already began to feel the tug of the countryside, calling them to leave behind the hustle and bustle of the sooty city. Today a few of us dream of finding ourselves in a dead zone so we can enjoy a respite from our cell phones, if only for an hour or two.

I’m convinced that the attraction many of us have for the great outdoors stems largely from our want to only be concerned with our immediate surroundings. Newspapers and other media present us with new horror stories every day, and sometimes it’s hard not to feel like the world is spinning out of control around us. Many of our jobs require us to interact with people from near and far and it is easy to be overwhelmed with the amount of information we have to deal with on a daily basis. Nature can offer a brief lull from all of that. Outdoor activities tend to help break up the worrisome black clouds in our life and allow the bright rays of hope and optimism in. We can forget about the various troubles around the world as we discover hidden places of refuge on a ski hill, or a nature walk, or near the perfect fishing hole.

Have you ever felt like you couldn’t take a break because too much depends on your direct involvement, whether at home, at work or anywhere else? If so, you should definitely take a vacation. For three weeks, at least. Force people to cope without you and they’ll find a way to do so. If you think you can’t do it, you need to do it. The typical vacation whisks you away from your familiar, humdrum, everyday existence and throws you into a world that offers new sights and experiences, often including enticing natural surroundings that will appeal to your sense of adventure and/or beauty. Consider how much nature affects your choice of a vacation destination. Would you rather stay in a hotel next to an oil refinery or a beach?

Sometimes I need to escape from everything around me and I don’t have the time to take a trip, though. In such cases I improvise. For example, I turn off my cell phone, television, video game machine, etc. and build a little fire in my backyard fire pit. Suddenly I am only concerned with what is immediately around me: my family, my dogs, and my fire that won’t stay lit because I’m using wet wood (I keep the lighter fluid handy). Like magic, conversations replace phone calls, stories become more interesting than the boob tube, and keeping the fire going is more challenging than Super Mario Bros (thank goodness for lighter fluid).

When the weight of the world becomes too much for you, learn to simplify your life and take a step back from everything you are involved in. As the son of a raging workaholic, I’ve discovered the restorative properties that nature and vacations can offer to an overworked human being. Whether you take a 15-minute walk during work, or a weeklong cruise, you’ll discover that nature and breaks from the rat race strengthen your ability to handle the less enjoyable parts of life.