Lessons from the Wild
The wisdom from walking
Photo @elricardo7 instagram
Why do we walk? It’s one of the first things we learn as babies, the simple act of placing one foot in front of the other. For many, the sole purpose is to get from one place to the next, and can often be more of a hinderence than a pleasure. However, an argument can be made that human survival depended on walking. Our early ancestors knew that when the seasons changed, they must have to adapt to survive. When winter arrived, food would no longer be so readily available and we would need to relocate to find food. We covered the globe on foot, settling and colonising as tribes. These days it is seen more as a luxury than a necessity. With more cars on the road and public transport for those who need to travel, walking is very much seen as just a hobby for those who have the time.
“I belive that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright” — Henry David Thoreau
For me, there is nothing better than a good walk, whether it is a short brisk walk through the countryside, or day long hikes across the mountains. It is a primal act of mobility which serves as a connection to our essential wilderness. It allows us to retune, a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Putting away our phones, worries and problems and finding an archaic peace along the road. It is a medicine, nature's very own prescription, below are some of the lessons that the wild has taught me.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” — John Muir
Perseverance
When life challenges us, we have but two choices, one is to turn away and run from our problems in the hope that it will go away. Defence is a natural instinct, we see danger and the survival nature inside us tells us to flee. But these problems never go away, we can only distract ourselves for so long. The other choice, is to tackle our problems head on, to face and fight the darkness. When hiking across the mountains there are many points when the path is too steep, when our legs are too tired. To turn back and quit is a choice that is all too inviting. When the weather is cold and the rain is fierce, who wouldn't want to call it a day and return to a nice warm pub with hot food and a refreshing pint? This is nature's test, to reach the summit is a test of our perseverance, only the worthy shall reach the top. Hiking teaches us to be patient, we can only focus on our next step, if we stand at the bottom of a mountain, worrying about how high that mountain is, or how long is left of the journey, then the hike will never seem to end, we will always be unhappy with how long is left to go, we will complain that we are tired, sore and hungry. The joy is in the journey, our focus is on the step we are taking at that time. Not on the steps we have taken or those still left to take. It is how we can appreciate the beauty around us, the sights the sounds that the wild has to offer. That is how we must deal with our problems, we cannot think about the situations that led us here as they have passed and cannot be changed, nor can we worry about what is yet to come, because the future is untamed and never controlled, all we can do is focus on what we are doing now, the step we are taking right now.
Observation
When we walk to work, to the shops or to the bus stop, do we stop to notice the world around us? Most of the time no, walking is a hurry, to get from once place to another, we listen to music to drown out the sounds of city life. We stare down at our phones to check Facebook, to reply to emails, the scenery is bleak, built up houses, filled up rubbish bins, cigarette butts and old chewing gum litter the floor. Meanwhile councils and property developers put through plans to destroy more of our ancient protected green spaces. Hills and habitats dug up to build more houses, more roads, more car parks which lead to more pollution. Now is the time we need to realise the beauty around us, we complain about how built up and claustrophobic the UK is, yet only 1 percent of it is made up of houses. From the busy streets of Manchester I can drive just over an hour in any direction and be greeted by breathtaking vistas. When we are surrounded by nature, all is quiet, all is calm, we can observe and soak in the beauty around us, we can bask in its ancient charm. These rocks and trees have been around far longer than we have, and it is up to us to ensure their beauty can be admired long after we depart. To detach ourselves from nature is to detach ourselves from what makes us human, which is why those who spend long hours in government offices have no qualms about knocking down a few trees to build a new luxury spa retreat.
Preparation
More than any mountain, the most challenging and rewarding adventure we will ever experience is life. It is a journey with no set destination, who's paths wind and turn into the unknown, sometimes roads will be blocked, challenges will have to be overcome, we can only prepare so much, too much preparation makes us timid and scared, we look at the path with trepidation, too little preparation and we become overwhelmed and the path becomes a struggle.
The wild teaches us to adapt, the weather can change in the blink of an eye. What can seem like a sunny day can quickly change to a storm, if we are not prepared for change then it will catch us off guard and we will struggle. To be prepared is to tell ourselves that things might change, and if they do, we will be in the best possible position to deal with that change. I have seen people walking in the wrong footwear, or soaked wet through because they did not bring waterproofs. There have been walks when people did not bring enough food or water, all these are a result of a lack of preparation, this makes the journey uncomfortable or even impossible. If we apply this to our every day life then it would be safe to assume that by not preparing ourselves in life, we make our tasks or goals much more difficult to achieve.
