[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thank you for sharing, Melody. It sounds like you’ve had a very rich relationship with nature and that you’re frustrated with living in a culture/society that does not operate with nature’s perfect harmony. I can sooooo relate. I’ve struggled so much over the years to come to an agreement with myself, and eventually forgive myself, for not living out the values I hold in my heart. I wasted a lot of time feeling guilty and being self-centered. I lacked patience above all else. I wanted everything to change immediately all the while preaching that nature takes her time and everything is done that needs to be in that time. Even as I say that I realize that it’s still something I struggle with, but I’m getting better. And I realize that it’s those “shoulds” you speak of, that constantly influence my perception of myself subconsciously. I used to beat myself up over what a majority of people tell me; people who lacked a relationship with the natural world.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thanks for sharing @ray.lilli (sorry I forgot your full name) Depsite what you call your “monkey mind” you seem to have good awareness of yourself. I appreciated your lesson from using your wide angle vision while climbing and how it contrasted to the focus you generally use. I think that’s a deficit a lot of outdoors sportsman/athletes have, unfortunately. I don’t doubt that those people love being outdoors, but they tend to focus so much on their task that they miss everything else going on around them, and inside them. It reminds me of a Tom Brown Jr. story when he spent an entire day sitting under a big tree and all the animals that he encountered, even a racoon using Tom’s shoulder to climb up the tree. When Tom got up to exit the area he came upon some hikers that were so excited that they saw the tail end of a deer running away from them as they so proudly boasted that they were ahead of schedule to their destination. Here Tom virtually went nowhere and experienced more of nature in a day of sitting under a tree than those hikers probably have in their lifetime.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thanks for sharing, Penny. I loved to read about your nature rich upbringing and how it influenced the good work you are doing today. I’m so afraid that kind of childhood is nearly lost for kids today. But if we can encourage people to at least get nature in like a “daily nutrient” as you say, I think there is hope.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

Thank you for sharing, Hanna. Reading your post reminded me of a time I entered the woods after it had been a little while. I had the most profound feeling that I was back home and the trees were welcoming me with arms open wide, like they missed me. Nature stays with us for sure and is always ready to welcome us back no matter our circumstances; something we often lack from humankind.

[Kent-Singing Panther]

I think if I were to break down what Nature-Connection is in the simplest form, it is remembering who I am. Because who I think I am, or have been, on most days has little to do with the real me. It’s in those connected moments, with nature, a loved one, or a kindred spirit that I feel washed over with the memory of who I really am. It’s hard to put into words what it’s like, but the feelings associated with that memory are complete. In those moments I don’t ask for anything else. I am free. I am happy. I am as alive as the day I was birthed into this plane of existence.
But since that day almost 36 years ago, and beyond that, I have been told by countless voices who I am or should be. By no means would I say that I had a hard upbringing, but no matter how relatively privileged I was all those voices still caused a young Kent to forget that he was born wild and free. It’s only been in this last 1/3 of my life that I have begun to understand that a deep connection with nature has the potential to help me rewrite who I am. I don’t have to be tied to a past, or culture, or identity that doesn’t serve me with the completeness I embody when I am in deep connection.
I go to nature to feel me again; to rediscover the truth I know innately. And I begin to see nature as myself. Any harm that comes to her, or love that comes to her, is also imparted on me. I concluded years ago that I didn’t want anything from the culture I was raised in anymore. I didn’t want money, a career, a house, a car…nothing. I just wanted to be left alone to BE with Earth. I wanted to learn how to live in rhythm with the seasons and speak the language of nature fluently. After some time fantasying about such things like escaping to the wild to live unencumbered by the demands and folly of civilization, I realized that the fantasy was not helping me in the way nature connection did. I realized that nature works because of her diversity; all entities doing what they do in cooperation with the rest to sustain balance.
I see now that a key missing element in my life is genuine mentorship and a cultural community that helps to maintain my balance. I’ve wanted these things for a long time. I’ve had maybe one person I would call a mentor in my life which was my youth pastor. Years later when I realized that I wanted a mentor to really teach me, and challenge me, in the ways of nature connection I began to pay closer attention to mentoring potentials. However, I never found anyone who I really wanted to learn from or embody their way of life. I guess the circles I walked in didn’t have anyone “wild” enough to teach me what I wanted to know. Perhaps this was arrogant on my part, but I was so protective of the new truths I had found through nature that I didn’t want anyone to potentially negate that with some religious dogma or whatever. So I decided to let nature herself mentor me along with whomever may cross my path in books and teachings that resonated with me.
As I read the article by Jon Young I knew he was/is on to something I really do need if I want to maintain the 8 attributes of connection daily. Going into wilderness is amazing. Being “away from it all” at times are needed. Allowing wilderness to remold the body and mind is what I want. But the reality is I am not in the wild and I need to allow nature to work on me daily what the wilderness can do during immersive sessions. I can enter my inner wilderness by focusing my intent, being aware, and allow myself to enter a space where I can be mentored and supported by a healthy community.
I am the biggest challenge I face to not having these wonderful things that are deep connection. My fears, my stubborn self-sufficient attitude, my ideals, and my laziness are just a number of things I need to let go of on a daily basis. What will fill the void of those things given up is deep connection with nature and everything associated.