A solitary walk on a misty mountain path; a horse ride along a beaten trail; the experience wading in a pristine stream in search of wild trout – these are few things in the occurrence of lifetime pursuits which remain for me unmatched by any other outdoor experience. Empowered by the beauty of the natural world, communing with nature has taught me to accept the fact that one cannot be on the winning side all of the time. And as with life in general, nature has taught me how to use these experiences as opportunities for learning and growing. This has shown me that the exuberance of youth lives in the moment, not the philosophical – that kind of wisdom comes with age and experience.
At times it feels as if we live in a world that no longer understands or cares about anything or anyone. Life takes on two-dimensional perspectives; in the eye of the storm everything is calm, one feels safe cocooned in the confines of an invisible protective shield keeping pain, confusion and fear at bay. But once away from this ethereal security, life feels like a tumbleweed violently blown away in the wind with no sense of direction, no strength to hang on, no anchor.
Mankind’s natural proclivity is to be in harmony with all things.
To ‘BE’ is the goal and the secret to happiness, a state of mindfulness which nature as ultimate teacher can impart. As society grows more complex, the structure and pace of our day-to-day lives leaves us hungry for meaning and purpose. We feel less whole and disjointed by the web of life that continuously pulls us in different directions. The constant juggle of commitment to family and career leaves many women with a dire need, a feverish relentless effort to escape the ravages of time, insurmountable challenges and often deferred dreams. We yearn for a state of mind that eludes us – stillness and inner peace.
I believe many of us still cherish memories of the fun, challenge, excitement and friendships of bygone school camps. Women today spill themselves away, seldom being allowed the time, the quiet, the peace, to let the pitcher fill up to the brim. Women need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves – that firm strand which will be the indispensable centre of a whole web of human relationships.