One Night, One River, One Reset: Nature's Gift to us Climateers
For a few years, many years ago, I spent 21-day stints in the high desert of Idaho. I lived amidst the sage and willow trees, hiking from spring to spring, camping in deep canyons along intermittent streams. For the most part, I loved that job. Yes, I grew tired of the wrath of challenged teens, and having to chase them down in the middle of the night. But, living under the stars for weeks on end, with safety, security, and relationships as my primary concerns, was a powerful, simple way to live, and I miss it dearly.
Looking down among the otherwise towering hoodoos (20+ ft tall) in the Bennett Hills, Idaho. Photo Credit: Tamara Staton
For years, I didn’t think that anything less than three weeks could grant me access to that deep connection and peace that I gained from being so connected to nature. But over time, I learned that I was wrong – that even just a brief stint can be enough to tap into a powerful connection and feel the peace, ease, and fulfillment that the wilderness offers.
It can be hard to express the power of this connection. You may know the feeling yourself, but may similarly struggle to put into words the depth of your experience. Lucky for us, we’re not alone, and can find resonance in the words of some powerful writers:
Camped in the shadows of the towering trees.
Photo Credit: Tamara Staton
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.
— John Burroughs
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
— John Muir
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.
— Aristotle
These writers wrote about what nature offers and how we might benefit in its presence. There are others who have written about nature as a guide, as a model for what we might do, what we might learn, and who we might be if we do our best to emulate her:
Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
A walk in nature walks the soul back home.
— Mary DavisThe best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God.
– Anne Frank
But for me, the message is the same regardless of their focus: As committed climateers, and humans on this beautiful planet, we can lean on nature in a way that helps us regulate our nervous system – in far less time than 3 weeks.
Our new beloved spot along the Salmon River near Mt. Hood, Oregon. Photo Credit: Tamara Staton
A few nights ago, for example, I went camping for just one night. I was resistant at first, feeling tired with no interest in packing or planning our meals. But it turned out to be far more than worth it, not only for the invaluable connection with my friend who went with me, but for the regenerative time I spent in and around the roots of the towering cedars. The flow of the river was both soothing and empowering, and the cold, wet rock felt solid and grounding. That night, under the stars, life felt simple, easy and straightforward. I didn't need to be more or do more or think more or fix more. I could just BE. And that felt like a huge sense of freedom in our fast-paced world where we can't seem to work fast enough to fix all the things that seem broken.
Climate change sucks. It's hard to swallow and navigate. And so is political strife, and conflict, and fear, and anxiety. We carry all of that tension in our bodies, which can overwhelm us and lead to burnout. But connecting to nature - even just for a bit - can help us let some of that tension go.
And that makes a huge difference, for us and the world. Because when we are more relaxed and our nervous systems are calm, we think more clearly, make better decisions, avoid burnout, and stay in the work longer. And all of that makes living life far more enjoyable.
