Does becoming one with nature take us backwards as a society? This philosophical inquiry was initiated by my five star resort frequenting sister-in-law, Amita, during one of our nights in the Montana wilderness as we await our dinner. No, you didn't read that wrong...in wilderness as we await our dinner. Anyway it was rather "roughing it" given we actually had to carry our own stuff and sit on logs to eat dinner.
Back to the question at hand...Amita took me aside and said something hilarious in Gujarati to keep it super secret from our guides lest they throw an ant or fly into our meal. Some comedy does not translate well from Gujarati to English, but the gist of the side bar conversation was something as follows.
"You know, we are so technologically advanced and we have come so far in society. Why, do we have to do this stuff. And these people enjoy it!" By "this stuff", I'm sure she meant swatting mosquitoes, dodging bison droppings as we walk to our tent, sleeping without AC or heat (both were needed), and generally being annoyed with the discomfort of the wilderness.
Minus the humor, it is an interesting question. Why do this hiking and camping stuff? We can so easily go to Wegman's and get the best foods available to us at any time. We can sit and talk at the dinner table just as easily as around a log in the woods. All while in total comfort with no danger of bears or nightly creatures intruding in our space. We have evolved, haven't we?
There is something very therapeutic of becoming one with the land. The beauty is in the simplicity, no? It is similar to the yearning humans have for human to human contact. Despite all of the technological advances in communications enabling us to call, text, email, or Skype anywhere in the world at anytime...we still want to go see people and be with them.
I held a beautiful stone in a store in Montana. It felt amazing in the palm of my hand. It wasn't just the texture or the weight, it was the energy stored in the stone that vibrated just perfectly with my hand and body. Like the stone, everything in nature has an energy and frequency that resonates when you let it in. At home, I don't sleep well often - but I slept amazingly well on both nights in the outdoors. The majestic sound of the mountain stream trickling literally 50 feet from our tent blended with the cacophony of the nightlife would inspire Stephen Halpern to new levels.
Being one with nature isn't for everyone for it can be...
Views to inspire you to do so...
This is the view from our tent area on the first night.
As I lay down by the camp, I took this shot when light was perfect...I didn't quite capture the moment but it is close.
As I observed light dancing through the trees, a bald eagle flew over head. Are you kiddin' me?
2 comments:
Great shot of that Eagle. When you're gathered by a campfire it's much different than being in your living room. Yes, you sit the same distance apart but there' no TV in the background, no texts chiming in, no "dings" of emails streaming in. All things can can remove you from the people with whom you are bonding. The outdoors (away from cellular towers) is the best! Doesn't that make you want to put your phone down more often?
Well said, but why do you have to kick a man while he is trying to be enlightened with the last question? Grin.
Damn, I love having cell coverage again. LOL.
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