Thoughts From The Wilderness – Three Ways To Being Aware

For those tuning in thinking, this is yet another, albeit important post on being safe when you’re out about by yourself…..well sorry to disappoint.

Instead of safety and protection out in the big-bad world or precaution when outdoors and as important as those subjects are, this more focused on being “aware” or perhaps a wiser phrase might be “engaged” when spending time in nature.

However, before delving into the subject matter before us with any gusto, one question to ponder is, “why do I/we head out into the wilderness or even local parks for that matter?”

Even if only thinking about it for a second, there will be a multitude of weighty answers to that question, and all of them, if the question was answered truthfully, will be correct.

Nevertheless, if one of the answers is to disengage from the stresses of life, then the other side of the equation suggests you’re disengaging from one thing in order to engage in and with this “new environment.”

Engagement runs parallel to being aware of your surroundings.

Not lost or unaware, but aware or engaged.

And as well, engagement with nature is not being in some zen-like trance wandering aimlessly around in the nether reaches of the northern Ontario boreal forest.

Although, if this is how you approach your time spent in the wilderness, well then more power to you. And good luck with that.

On a recent hiking adventure in Algonquin Park, while hiking along through a low lying bog area, I looked down off the path into the murky water and spied this snapping turtle as captured in this picture by Lynn.

Although, if talking precautions in the outdoors was the subject of today, an entirely appropriate safety message based on the picture might be “don’t dangle your fingers in the water to catch Mr./Mrs. Snapping Turtle’s attention. You may pull your hand out of the water with one less digit.”

Looking at it, he/she is well camouflaged and just parked on the bottom of the stream. In fact, the snapping turtle looks like a flat rock on the stream bed, covered in algae and silt.

When I pointed the turtle out to Lynn, she immediately inquired, “how did you see that?”

For the life of me, I can’t remember what my response was, even if I had one. This all happened in early July, making more than three months ago. There is even the off-chance I may have made up some wild and glorious verbal diarrhea of an answer, which isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. When in doubt, make something up and mix some truth in with it. A strategy many politicians of all political stripes follow with great enthusiasm.

The reason why Mr./Mrs. Snapping Turtle and yours truly connected on at least a visual level was, “I was engaged” while out there. Engaged, even when slogging along with my main squeeze through a swampy and boggy area of Algonquin Park at the height of the blood-sucking and the “mind questioning – why am I out here? and mental wellness squashing”……northern Ontario bug season.

Engaged…what?

Remember, we all head out into nature for reasons that only one can truly answer for themself.

My reasons can’t necessarily be your reasons for getting out. Nor can the reasons posted on a weekly basis from YouTuber “Buddy The Outdoors Person”, be your reasons or passion as well.

Your reasons will be your truth.

Now, before I explode on the reality, mission or “brand” perpetuated by “Buddy The Outdoors Person”(I just made the name up), here are three tips I follow to help be engaged with nature, either solo or with Lynn. As a side note, the outdoors is always better and I mean always a better time and experience when shared with someone.

Fair warning – these tips are in no way “the end all to be all “- but, nevertheless.

Being Engaged In Nature – Three Tips

Anticipate

Any time I head out, I always step out the door; fire up the car and leave the “old homestead” with a great level of anticipation.

Even before arriving at the destination and in fact during the planning or thinking about where we might be going, I have a grand level of anticipation.

Source: Google Images

Anticipation for what?

Anticipate – that there will be something magnificent to be seen or experienced.

That the universe or “old Mother Nature” or even a power greater than us will lift up the wilderness stage curtain and reveal what we consider to be “what a great find” moment.

Right now, you may be thinking the same thing as me “what the fu@k” does that mean… and I even wrote it!! How messed up is that?

Alrighty then, before heading down some philosophical rabbit hole and spending way too much time, energy, brain cells and early morning coffee trying to answer the aforementioned “what the fu@k” does that mean.

Let’s try this.

How many of us when we’re out in the wilderness and miles from anywhere or even if we’re strolling through a local conservation area, like to see wildlife?

Of course, we all do!

I follow several “Algonquin Park” related groups on Facebook. Having followed these groups for some time now, one consistent question that gets asked is, “where are the best places in Algonquin to see…moose, bear, large animals etc.”

One can assume, these people are heading to Algonquin with the grand anticipation of seeing, for example, a moose along the side of Highway 60 in the springtime, grazing happily without a care in the world.

The anticipation of seeing a moose.

However, what happens if all the moose in Algonquin have a scheduled day off when you go?

You spend all day and not one friggin moose made an appearance. It seems like an outing like that could be considered and often is considered by many to have been a waste of a day in Algonquin.

It’s because the anticipation is wrongly focused.

The anticipation, in the “moose example”, is so narrowly centred, that only an Algonquin moose trying to hitch a ride with you and then regaling you with “tales and stories” from the bush all the while drinking a “double-double from Tim Hortons and chewing away at a Nutella smothered Beaver Tail” would be considered a “what a great find.”

Leaving the “old homestead” with the anticipation of “there will be something magnificent to be seen or experienced” provides a pretty wide canvas for the universe to surprise us. It might be a moose along Highway 60(that is always a bonus) or in our case a snapping turtle wallowing in the mud at the bottom of a stream as you trudge through some bug-infested low boggy area.

The idea here is it could be anything.

Think of this as waiting to unwrap a Christmas present from a very special person in your life. You know the present it will be great….you just don’t know how big, small or great it will be.

To anticipate “there will be something magnificent to be seen or experienced” is one catalyst or a great tip to help ensure you are engaged when out in nature.

Be in the moment

I’m not sure I know “what the fu@k” it even means.

Although, it is a well-used and perhaps now a worn-out phrase that gets tossed around without a whole lot of thought behind it’s meaning.

Which is perfect for this post.

With complete and utter disregard for any true meaning, the phrase may have, refer back to near the beginning of the post.

The assumption was that, if you’re heading out the door into nature to disengage from the stresses of life, then by default you’re disengaging from that in order to engage in this “new environment.”

Therefore, you’re being in the moment.

You can’t engage with the natural environment(be in the moment) without trying to consciously disengage from the stresses of life.

“Being in the moment or be in the moment” is a decision.

And “being there” is achieved and goes hand in hand with “anticipation.”

And I get it.

I get that “being in the moment”; that phrase has almost no meaning attached to it or is more of a “self-help” elixir that is mixed in large doses; prescribed feverishly by the “self-helper” establishment and consumed by the masses who are searching for some nebulous level of self-awareness enlightenment.

I get that.

Nevertheless,” being in the moment or be in the moment” is a decision.

And it’s hard to “be in the moment” and forget the cancer treatments a loved one is going through.; it’s hard to “be in the moment” when the world as you know and experience it seems to be crashing down around your ears.

But, if you close the door to your house that day, with the anticipation “there will be something magnificent to be seen or experienced” you’re well on your way to disengage from the stresses of life and to “be in the moment” with nature.

“Being in the moment or be in the moment” is a decision.

Unplug

Need I say more??

Source: Google Images

Yes, we are a society sadly addicted to our little electronic devices.

And yes, I’ve heard every reason in the world why we MUST have those said electronic devices with us when in nature.

After 40 plus years or canoe tripping; hiking and other adventures, unfortunately, I’ve heard it all.

All 18,452 reasons why “I must have my cell phone; Ipad or other devices with me.”

So… take a picture…sure why not….capture the memory.

But, in order to engage with nature, unplug.

I wonder how Lynn and I survived in nature? In that time so long ago of …….pre-devices?

Addiction is bad………unplug.

 

There you go.

It took some time to get here, but we somehow managed.

Three tips to help engage and be aware when you’re in nature.

• anticipate – that something magnificent will be seen or experienced
• be in the moment – make the decision
• unplug – addiction is bad

 

Remember..

—  get outdoors; find inspiration; discover yourself  —