The wilderness can change a man............

[ArmySurvivalist]

Pict, I agree fully. I think thats a excellent observation. I will remember that and pass that on to some of my friends.

[Sourdough]

There is a real transformation that can metamorphose within a man who is alone in the wilderness. He can exit the wilderness fragile, very fragile, he is no longer sure where that which is himself ends and that which is not himself starts.

Everything is kind of fuzzy, and has a softness about it, all things appear slightly blurred to the eye, like after one has been crying, and it can be hard to distinguish where one object stops and another object starts.

He feels weak and vulnerable, but centered. In fact he is stronger, but the feeling of weakness, and vulnerability comes from the loss of arrogance.

There is a clarity about the perfection of everything. Sounds are crisper, colors are different, there are so many more (new) colors now.

He feels as if he is looking through things and through people, this is a very uncomfortable experience, he tries to focus, but he just looks through everything.

Part of him wants to go back to the way it was, before being alone in the wilderness. But he also enjoys the bliss of how it is now. He wants to weep for no reason, but for the perfection of everything.

He has change, and can not change back to that which he was before, being alone in the wilderness.

I know not of drugs, but being alone in the wilderness, for long periods will change your perception of the universe. The universe is the same, but you have shifted to a place where you can see, with new eyes, a new heart, and a new empathy for all life. You have been born a second time, and are a child of the wilderness.

There was a time long ago, that a man was encouraged to go into the wilderness alone for a extended period, so that he might find wisdom about life. Sad it is discouraged today. Welcome home....welcome home. Home from the wilderness, for he free to return at any time to your true nature.

AMY, read this

[amy headrick]

You are right about there not being any drugs like this experience. I would give anything to be able to experience my after wilderness high again. It was wonderful. It is also the reason I miss the woods sometimes. . .

[wareagle69]

you know pops the one thing i like about this site is reading old posts from a year a two ago, i remember you posted this after my return last year from my self imposed exisle in the bush, and yes 30 days does change a man, then i lost it, wish as amy says i could get that feeling back again, the anger is back i need more bush time work annoys me, humans annoy me i need another quest

[Lorna]

Very profound Hopeak. It puts things in prospective.

[oly]

Thanks Hopeak, Its been so long since I sent any time totally alone in the wilderness that I forgot about what your saying.

[red lake]

Neat post,

First time I spent time in the wilderness alone it had a profound effect.

You can read about it here....

http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/v...?f=108&t=22987

[Alpine_Sapper]

How inspired,In the wilderness I become myself,in society I become what they expect me to be.

Really? Not me. I give a damn what society expects me to be. I am me, no matter what. If society doesn't like it, so ****ing what? Get over it.

[Rick]

Well, I have to tell you that hurt my feelings. I really thought you cared what we think but now I find out you really don't. And after we've given you the best weeks of our forum experience! I think you have some explaining to do, mister!

[Alpine_Sapper]

Well, I have to tell you that hurt my feelings. I really thought you cared what we think but now I find out you really don't. And after we've given you the best weeks of our forum experience!

You mean you don't like me the way I am?

I think you have some explaining to do, mister!

Hold on, let me pull out my bag of excuses;

1: I'm a product of my environment
2: I was an oppressed citizen based on gender, nationality, race, religion....
3: The video games made me do it...
4: It's all my father's fault
5: I just needed a hug...
6: I just wanted to see what it would look like if I pulled the trigger...
7: I didn't know it would *DIE*... (wtf did you expect when you shot it...)
8: He really is a good dog...

If none of the above are applicable please let me know, and I will continue.

[mountain mama]

*giving AS a BIG hug*

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Really? Not me. I give a damn what society expects me to be. I am me, no matter what. If society doesn't like it, so ****ing what? Get over it.

thanks, thats inspiring. my views can sometimes rub the wrong spot with most people, not rude or aragant but identical opposite. (two positive poles of a magnet.)i am often left wondering how to live with notions that i dont agree with.when i speak about them theres a problem with some one who has the "acceptable" manner of thinking.

[KhonHd]

Your words are nice, Hopeak, but I don't think it has anything to do with where you are. It has to do with WHO you are. My uncle was a POW and he professed some of those same feelings even though he was a prisoner during war.

It has to do with growing older, too, I think. We begin to shed the shield of invincibility of our youth and begin to acquire some wisdom that comes with experience and age. We also begin to really understand that it isn't about ourselves but something a lot bigger.

Still, they are good words.

I agree and disagree... There is a lot to be said for who a person is. But we are, for the most part, a sum of our experiences. Choices good or bad; actions good or bad have had an influence on defining us. Yes there are genetics involved as well, but what I am thinking of is environmental influences. So WHO we are is not as cut and dry and some think. Who I am has being getting defined for 43 years, and I am still changing (for the better I hope). Part of who I am is attributed to where I have had the good fortune to be born and raised. Knowing love and security.

In the bush mental clarity comes much easier. There is no noise (I don’t consider the wind, frogs and birds to be noise, but rather music). There are no demands of work, bills, threats (crime). You energy level will be charged, not drained. Even after hiking all day, while I may be tired, MY energy is lifted. It can be, if you let it, a meditation. A moment, be it an hour or 30 days, that adds to your life experiences.

These experiences will help define who you are, the next positive choice will be much easier. The majority of my up lifting experiences come when I am with nature. Thus location is critical.

One last comment: We all have different brain chemistries, neuropathways are wired differently, these also plays a hugh roll in who we are. But we can rewire our neuropathways. Apparently it takes 21 days… Start by spending some time with nature.

Wait, this is the same thing I just said in the first three paragraphs, since our neuropathways are wired the way they are from our previous experiences.

[Alpine_Sapper]

I agree and disagree... There is a lot to be said for who a person is. But we are, for the most part, a sum of our experiences. Choices good or bad; actions good or bad have had an influence on defining us. Yes there are genetics involved as well, but what I am thinking of is environmental influences. So WHO we are is not as cut and dry and some think. Who I am has being getting defined for 43 years, and I am still changing (for the better I hope). Part of who I am is attributed to where I have had the good fortune to be born and raised. Knowing love and security.

In the bush mental clarity comes much easier. There is no noise (I don’t consider the wind, frogs and birds to be noise, but rather music). There are no demands of work, bills, threats (crime). You energy level will be charged, not drained. Even after hiking all day, while I may be tired, MY energy is lifted. It can be, if you let it, a meditation. A moment, be it an hour or 30 days, that adds to your life experiences.

These experiences will help define who you are, the next positive choice will be much easier. The majority of my up lifting experiences come when I am with nature. Thus location is critical.

One last comment: We all have different brain chemistries, neuropathways are wired differently, these also plays a hugh roll in who we are. But we can rewire our neuropathways. Apparently it takes 21 days… Start by spending some time with nature.

Wait, this is the same thing I just said in the first three paragraphs, since our neuropathways are wired the way they are from our previous experiences.

While I agree with what you said, I disagree that it needs to be done in nature. I can take a few moments to meditate and center myself no matter where I am, and the chances of the average horn blowing finger waving stressed out citizen living a little longer are doubled. I can get just as stressed out in the woods if I'm with said citizen or someone who acts like them.

So I think what Rick meant about WHO we are is applicable in that if you are the type to meditate and calm yourself and be at peace with yourself and harmony with the universe
it doesn't really matter where you are.

[KhonHd]

While I agree with what you said, I disagree that it needs to be done in nature. I can take a few moments to meditate and center myself no matter where I am, and the chances of the average horn blowing finger waving stressed out citizen living a little longer are doubled. I can get just as stressed out in the woods if I'm with said citizen or someone who acts like them.

So I think what Rick meant about WHO we are is applicable in that if you are the type to meditate and calm yourself and be at peace with yourself and harmony with the universe
it doesn't really matter where you are.

Good points and I do agree. While I do try to ground myself when at work or in traffic I just find it easier when in nature (by myself). Maybe that's the key "by myself". This thread has me thinking... A 30 day retreat to a cabin sure would be nice.

[Alpine_Sapper]

Good points and I do agree. While I do try to ground myself when at work or in traffic I just find it easier when in nature (by myself). Maybe that's the key "by myself". This thread has me thinking... A 30 day retreat to a cabin sure would be nice.

Yes sir. I don't even have to have the cabin. A full 30 days away from the ratrace by myself would be fine. I would be fine with a .22, some fishing gear, and a small bob. I can make the shelter.

[amy headrick]

Good points and I do agree. While I do try to ground myself when at work or in traffic I just find it easier when in nature (by myself). Maybe that's the key "by myself". This thread has me thinking... A 30 day retreat to a cabin sure would be nice.

See and that is why after i was lost, people thought it would be traumatic, but it wasn't. While not planned, I had no phones to answer, no voicemails to return, no e-mail to check, no motions to write, no partners to answer to. . .it was a total break from the so called ratrace. And when you are alone in nature, you have time to think, reflect, even relax -- even under the worst conditions.

[Rick]

You can ground yourself in a lot of situations. Stay calm and think your way through it. Just ground yourself when working with electricity.

[Rick]

Instead of regrets, I ordered a plate of "do it right the first time" with a side order of "then there won't be any regrets". I got the kiddie meal version of compulsions and that was plenty for me. That's enough to keep me busy. I returned the melancholy and exchanged it for a super sized happy thoughts with rainbows and puppy dogs. Yum Yum.

[Alpine_Sapper]

Instead of regrets, I ordered a plate of "do it right the first time" with a side order of "then there won't be any regrets". I got the kiddie meal version of compulsions and that was plenty for me. That's enough to keep me busy. I returned the melancholy and exchanged it for a super sized happy thoughts with rainbows and puppy dogs. Yum Yum.

Sooo...how's that Prozac working for you?