The benefits of getting outside and getting in nature are numerous and far too many to list here. Physically, mentally, and spiritually getting outside and getting into nature helps them all. It will make you more physically fit and healthy. It’ll make you more mentally calm and resilient. And it’ll help to qualm a raging spirit and quiet an anxious one. We were meant to be in nature and live with the natural rhythms.
When we get out of that bad things happen. It sounds so simple but there is great power to it that most either take for granted or have no knowledge of. And many governments and societies today have ways in which parts of nature are preserved so that you can enjoy it and take advantage of it. For example the parks system in the United States.
Something that I recommend everyone do is take advantage of whatever natural access you have. All parts of the uncivilized world have beauty to them. Even a desert or an artic “wasteland” have beauty to them. But let’s talk about the why behind all of this. Why go exploring? Why get off the beaten path? Why spend the time discovering nature, aside from the benefits already listed above?
Awe, Beauty, & What’s Missing From Modern Life
When was the last time you were awed? The last time you looked at something and thought “Wow, that’s just amazing?” if you can’t remember then you need to experience this soon. Awe and wonder are such fundamental and important aspects of being human and living a good life. They show us beauty and connect us with things beyond ourselves. Helping us to achieve and stay in balance. They show us and connect us with an order beyond ourselves, which humans desperately need.
While there are man made things that’ll inspire wonder, and I recommend you find and experience all of them that you can, to me the best way to find this sense of awe and wonder is to get into nature. Look for the closest national park or nature visit spot near you and plan a trip there. So many times I’ve lived less than an hour from some natural wonder or other and never spent the time to go and see it.
A mistake that I’m making sure I never make again. Many of this trips are cheap and can be done in a day. Go find a spot and experience whatever your climate has to experience. I’ve been exploring caves and canoeing recently and enjoying it. I was able to see a few natural wonders over the last year and it’s been amazing to say the least. Especially with so much bullshit going on in the world it’s refreshing.
And important. As humans we need a sense of awe, a sense of wonder, a sense of we’re connected to something bigger and grander than us. When we focus on miniscule and petty human affairs it can make us more petty ourselves. I’m not saying don’t be aware of what’s going on, learn how things work, but then enjoy your life and remember the importance of connecting to things greater than yourself.
Forget The Petty Troubles That Don’t Matter
So much of what we think matters in this life just doesn’t. So much of what we stress about and stress over turns out to be nothing. Yet it still robs us of our most valuable resource, the one resources we can never get more of, time. And anything that robs you of your time is a problem. Spending time in the cosmic primal order, spending time in nature is a great way to help forget the petty worries and remember the things that are actually important.
All while experiencing that needed sense of awe. Part of this is the same reason that I encourage everyone to visit museums and look at art. These might seem frivolous pursuits but they’re anything but. And in many places these things are cheaper than a visit to the local fast food joint. Don’t neglect your spirit in focusing on only material things. Often times renewing your spirit will help you with material things anyways.
Too often we neglect our spirit and end up lesser for it. Get out in nature, go see a wonder, and go experience the life that is out there. Be awed, be amazed, and have that sense of relief in knowing that it’s not all about you and that we are connected to something grander in life that comes with it.
If you have any questions you would like to see answered in a future post send them to me at charlessledge001 (at) gmail (dot) com. If you found value in this post then I would encourage you to share this site with someone who may need it as well as check out my books here. I appreciate it.
-Charles Sledge
