Love this piece! And how you and Tommy are both living lives so in accordance with your philosophies. It's wild how the experience of time also changes when we untether from the devices and use our physical bodies to do basic tasks like cook, set up a tent, wash dishes, etc.
Thanks so much, Jeremy. You are right. Shutting off and locking away our phones and throwing ourselves fully at basic every day tasks, especially when it's under the sun and the sky and surrounded by trees, is a type of "deep happy" that can't be found in any digital environment. Appreciate your readership and support, pal.
Absolutely loved this article!! It was a great reminder to me to get up and do something, anything, when boredom sets in to help keep depression at bay. I was dealing with this a while back so I adopted a cat to keep me busy and occupied. Thank you for writing this!!
Margie, thank you very much! That is a great way to put it. I also find that when I get too sedentary and bored, throwing myself at a task snaps me out of it immediately. Whether it be gardening, baking or cooking something new, stretching, or any other type of work that uses my body.
Being actors in the world and taking control of our lives, rather than living on the sidelines and watching time pass us by, is how life is meant to be lived. Thank you for reading and for reminding me of that with your comment!
I whole heartedly agree! Backpacking in the wilderness with close friends and everything I need on my back are some of my fondest memories. I've got a trip planned for two weeks and you've got me looking forward to it even more. Thanks Jack!
Love this: "Backpacking in the wilderness with close friends and everything I need on my back are some of my fondest memories." Thanks so much for reading and for this comment, Bennett. I also love backcountry, which is even more of a touch grass and laborious experience, for the sense of being immersed in nature and the necessity of your constant work and exertion just to keep yourself alive.
Enjoy the trip! Maybe the pictures, if any, and the experience will make it into an essay.
Hey Jack, the description of finding where you put things on a camping trip made me laugh, especially because we’re on one! Much of the writing you and Tommy have been doing in the last six months has made an impact on me and so when my son recently wanted to go camping I was primed to answer with a big yes. We’re doing a 4 day camping trip by bicycle on the Olypmic peninsula in WA state. Adding 50 km of riding distance a day to this mix is what it looks like for us right now. My god it feels so good to go to bed exhausted and sleep 11 hours because there is nothing to stay up late doing and nothing pressing to get to in the morning. Listening to ocean waves from the tent as I write this. Such a needed reset for me. Thanks for the ideas around simplicity, work, balance and joy you’ve been sharing. They’re helping me.
Rick, thank you so much for sharing this with me. That is a beautiful experience to share with your son and reading about it fills me with joy. And thank you very much for your kinds words. It means very much to me that my writing may have had an impact on you.
I struggle with the need to be busy and productive. It’s become so ingrained in me that even when I have nothing scheduled for the next day, I still feel a compulsion to wake up early and get busy on my computer. I’m slowly trying to retrain my brain to chill out a little and allow myself to tune into the seasons of life. Going into nature and keeping tech stowed away, while using my body to work, is the best form of therapy for me.
Thank you again for this comment my friend. It made my day.
James, thank you so much for reading and for your words here. I experience that depression myself when I take too much sedentary time. Life feels better when you're moving and shaking.
Love this piece! And how you and Tommy are both living lives so in accordance with your philosophies. It's wild how the experience of time also changes when we untether from the devices and use our physical bodies to do basic tasks like cook, set up a tent, wash dishes, etc.
Thanks so much, Jeremy. You are right. Shutting off and locking away our phones and throwing ourselves fully at basic every day tasks, especially when it's under the sun and the sky and surrounded by trees, is a type of "deep happy" that can't be found in any digital environment. Appreciate your readership and support, pal.
Absolutely loved this article!! It was a great reminder to me to get up and do something, anything, when boredom sets in to help keep depression at bay. I was dealing with this a while back so I adopted a cat to keep me busy and occupied. Thank you for writing this!!
Margie, thank you very much! That is a great way to put it. I also find that when I get too sedentary and bored, throwing myself at a task snaps me out of it immediately. Whether it be gardening, baking or cooking something new, stretching, or any other type of work that uses my body.
Being actors in the world and taking control of our lives, rather than living on the sidelines and watching time pass us by, is how life is meant to be lived. Thank you for reading and for reminding me of that with your comment!
I whole heartedly agree! Backpacking in the wilderness with close friends and everything I need on my back are some of my fondest memories. I've got a trip planned for two weeks and you've got me looking forward to it even more. Thanks Jack!
Love this: "Backpacking in the wilderness with close friends and everything I need on my back are some of my fondest memories." Thanks so much for reading and for this comment, Bennett. I also love backcountry, which is even more of a touch grass and laborious experience, for the sense of being immersed in nature and the necessity of your constant work and exertion just to keep yourself alive.
Enjoy the trip! Maybe the pictures, if any, and the experience will make it into an essay.
Thanks man! I'll definitely take a lot of pictures and I tend to do some great thinking out on the trail so there's a good chance of it!
Enjoyed this - love camping with my kids. Favourite bit is going barefoot for days in a field. Thanks for this I just subscribed.
That’s beautiful. Returning to nature is wonderful experience, especially when it’s with loved ones.
Camping is absolutely something I will do with my future kids. Thank you so much for reading and subscribing.
Hey Jack, the description of finding where you put things on a camping trip made me laugh, especially because we’re on one! Much of the writing you and Tommy have been doing in the last six months has made an impact on me and so when my son recently wanted to go camping I was primed to answer with a big yes. We’re doing a 4 day camping trip by bicycle on the Olypmic peninsula in WA state. Adding 50 km of riding distance a day to this mix is what it looks like for us right now. My god it feels so good to go to bed exhausted and sleep 11 hours because there is nothing to stay up late doing and nothing pressing to get to in the morning. Listening to ocean waves from the tent as I write this. Such a needed reset for me. Thanks for the ideas around simplicity, work, balance and joy you’ve been sharing. They’re helping me.
Rick, thank you so much for sharing this with me. That is a beautiful experience to share with your son and reading about it fills me with joy. And thank you very much for your kinds words. It means very much to me that my writing may have had an impact on you.
I struggle with the need to be busy and productive. It’s become so ingrained in me that even when I have nothing scheduled for the next day, I still feel a compulsion to wake up early and get busy on my computer. I’m slowly trying to retrain my brain to chill out a little and allow myself to tune into the seasons of life. Going into nature and keeping tech stowed away, while using my body to work, is the best form of therapy for me.
Thank you again for this comment my friend. It made my day.
“And we feel more depressed because of it.”
Such a great line, Jack.
And an important piece. 👏
James, thank you so much for reading and for your words here. I experience that depression myself when I take too much sedentary time. Life feels better when you're moving and shaking.