Conclusion
I have lived in cities and enjoyed them. I still do, but in moderation. I love their convenience, their dynamics and their powerful energy. They are simply pure miracles of ingenuity, realities that defy any conception of what is possible. No wonder humankind can see God in itself.
But at night in the city, when the sun has set and I close my eyes to seek my dreams, I long for the sound of wind sneaking through the cracks, rain tumbling on the roof or waves pounding on a beach. I close my eyes and retreat into my world where the wild conducts its own symphony – frogs croaking, birds tweeting, crickets chirping.
I love the wilderness. I love being in it and feeling it. I love the humbling experience of feeling powerless against it.
I have often felt like a tamed animal that started out in the wild, always looking to the horizon and wondering where I belonged. Torn between the comforts of a modern world and the raw and simple purity of the wilderness, where the beautiful and the merciful live side by side. A place that calms and scares me, that constantly reminds me of what is essential, where nothing is pretentious and everything is interconnected. There is something quite peaceful in accepting that the world doesn’t simply revolve around humans. Wilderness generates my sanity.
I hope this book inspires you to stop, breathe, relax and listen, even if just for a moment. As much as I don’t mind the advantages of our modern lifestyle, we can greatly benefit when we regard Nature as a source of teachings and insights. It holds the power to restore our human spirit and brings mindfulness, health and balance to a society that in many ways yearns to reconnect with the natural world. Through my work and my efforts to provide youth with opportunities for wilderness immersion experiences, my message is always the same: our happiness lies in welcoming Nature back into our lives. Not by humanizing it, but by respecting it and accepting our place in it.
Nature’s teachings hold the secrets to our survival and evolution. Its most precious gift: humility is the foundation of a peaceful and harmonious world.
Get out there! Get lost and go feel the wild.
