I’ve found that a trip in nature, removing one’s self, if only briefly, from society and from the day to day, can help in the process of making larger transitions in life. The extra separation, the quiet, the scenery helps you to reflect on where you have been and where you are going next. The daily focus on the mundane, the thousands of paddle strokes or foot steps, setting up camp, starting a fire, preparing and eating meals, and daily repetition gives you a stability of purpose and focus that provides stability when other parts of your life are in flux. It also gives you memories that you can take with you into your new act of life. I have often envisioned a hike on the Appalachian Trail to commemorate my transition to retirement. There are a number of trips that I do associate with transitions in my life. Three of these such trips occurred in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). One of those such trips was a trip with friends after we had graduated, but before we started our jobs.
Continue reading “Life Transitions in the Boundary Waters”Life Transitions in the Boundary Waters
