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Time and the Great Outdoors

Spend a little more time thinking about time.

By: Matt Van Swol + Save to a List

I think we hide from thinking about time. I think that if we sat down and were even minutely introspective, we’d realize how little time we have and how unbelievably poorly we use it. I think we all hide from our finitude. I think society aids us in hiding from thinking about time. Stop for a moment and think about how you use your time. What percentage of your day do you use to “get though the day”? How much of the day is actually left after that?  How do you use that time? Do you spend it watching Netflix, on social media, running away from life’s problems? How about simply the time you spend “recovering” from the day you just trying to “get through?” Truth is, we waste a lot of time doing things we aren’t proud of doing, and spend too little time putting effort into things that really matter. In fact, I’d wager that most of our lives are spent trying to avoid doing anything or thinking about anything because we are too “busy” being consumers to be anything else.

Ok, so what the hell does this have to do with the outdoors? A lot, actually. You see, the fact is, we spend so much time consuming, that we do so little self-reflecting, real thinking, and spend so little time being truly happy. You and I settle for being “mildly entertained” when we deserve to be continually inspired. What keeps you clicking “watch next” on Netflix? What keeps you continuing a day job you hate with a passion? What keeps you in a relationship with someone you know you aren’t supposed to be with? 

                                        You spend too little time thinking about time.

Because you do, you are settling for being only mildly entertained, than being truly happy. The problem is however, when you start thinking about time, you have to deal with questions like, “Did I use the time I had well?”  and whether you like it or not, one day you’ll have to ask yourself these sorts of questions. So maybe we can shorten the process. Maybe you can start answering that question today. How do you use your time? How do you wish you used your time? What do you truly want to do with your life and the time you have left? These are really hard questions and what better place to ask them than on a mountain? The mountains have always been a symbolism of clarity of thought. Almost every Great Explorer says they find their truest-selves in the mountains. For me personally…I’ve made almost all my major life decisions sitting on top of a mountain view: college choice, not going to medical school, job choices, big purchases, hard relationship decisions…you name it. I’ve found that a lot of the distractions of life that seem like a big deal in the thick of things, melt away when resting on a mountain. Perhaps it’s the vast views that help create a birds eye view of life in your mind’s eye…I don’t know. What I do know is that life is too short to waste it, and if I am going to live, I want to live well and love the life I have, and help others do it too: that’s enough for me.


So maybe spend this weekend alone, on top of a mountain, reflecting on time. It’s a great use of it. Maybe spend a little less time consuming and a little more time creating. Maybe spend a little less time watching and a little more time viewing. Maybe we all could spend a little less time existing, and a little more time living

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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