wildness is a necessity

We live in an age where we're constantly connected, plugged into a device, reading status updates and posting pictures of our coffee, responding to texts and commenting on someone's photo. Our minds can never be quiet because we always have something to check, some update to read or message to respond to. Our phones are never more than a few feet away, our laptops always ready to be opened. We're distracted from the beautiful moments in life because we're trying to get the perfect instagram picture. And if we don't, we're disappointed. The beauty of that moment has somehow diminished. We've become chained to our technology, we're living our lives through our screens.

Now don't get me wrong, I love that we have the ability to show our friends the amazing sunset we saw on our way home, I love that I can write a post on my blog and connect with people who have the same interests as me, I think it's incredible that we can make friends with people from all over the world.

But there comes a point when it all just becomes exhausting. Filling our minds with who ate what for breakfast and how many followers we have and why a photo doesn't have a certain number of "likes". We are dissatisfied with our lives and feeling detached from ourselves. And the only cure to this is to turn it all off and get outside.

Nature is rejuvenating. Spending time amongst the trees, by the water, under the golden sun, is the cure for the anxieties and stresses of everyday life. And though it might not make your problems go away, it will clear your mind so you can handle whatever comes your way. Fresh air is good for your spirit, and gives you back the energy your technology has taken from you.

I've been making it my point lately to get outside and refresh my mind. I've been taking days to hike with my friends, going for runs on the trail by the river, sitting under trees to read, and watching the beautiful sunsets that happen every single night. I didn't realize how disconnected I've become with myself until I spent more of my time outside than inside. Life is passing so quickly, I want to make it full of as many beautiful moments as I can. And these moments won't come when I'm staring at a screen.

 I've been leaving my phone at home more often. I've been trying to stop mindlessly scrolling through social media, and just let myself be with my thoughts. I've been figuring out what makes life meaningful.


There is so much out there in the world that you miss by wasting your time inside. We're all going to waste time, but we'll never feel fulfilled by wasting it in front of a screen. Waste your time outside instead.

"Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity".   -John Muir