Where are we going?
Edward Abbey; wilderness writer extraordinaire in his tomb “Desert Solitaire” writes that we can go to the same places year after year, but they may seem different because, we, in fact have changed. Like Abbey, my most meditative times are those off the grid, one with the elements and lots of quiet. Since a young teen I wrestled with whether my own life should be one of remote solitude or vibrancy; the city and people.
And while my working days have been primarily spent in the peopled world, my own time is more often spent more quietly.
People and human connections are what keep most of us moving; yet (at least to me) it is the internal peace and solitude in the tall mountains and empty spaces that delivers on that thing known as meaning. And meaning is a privilege.
And most of us learn, much later into our years, that while human connections possibly matter most, what we can garner within ourselves is of equal importance. In fact, those positives derived from what others say and think often sadly fall flat. We must feel whatever it is, inside ourselves.
Hiking in nature is often a deep thinking experience. And when not on a time table, even more gratifying. And when time can be suspended (not on a schedule, it is often at its best.) Most often though weather determines timing, as do sunset and safety.
Recently, I was on a hike with a group. The group varied in experience, fitness, acclimatization and even attitudes about the trail. And while there was a loose schedule, timing was not fundamental as we were only out a few hours in the early morning. Some folks made the trip fast; others more slowly. And it was one of those times, when talking with a slower walker I said “no worries about the speed, we are all headed to the same place.”
On that day and always.
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We often rush to the next thing. Those of us who parented know what there were decades of the mad dash, to school, to work, to activities, to purchase food, to prepare food, to assist with homework, to do our own work, to exercise, to sleep and then again. And sadly, most of the years with our children are this frenetic pace.
Time, space, speed and pace are possibly the pillars of our lives. None of us know how much of any of them we have or have in us. We arrive at a certain age and are grateful that we continue to persevere and that our bodies and minds deliver. And like Abbey said, we return to the familiar spots and are different in each iteration.
Whether religious, spiritual or not; we all end up in the same place. And the beauty in aging, is knowing that maybe now, while time is in fact more limited(we may be closer to running out),we actually do not need to rush.
The 1980’s movie “City Slickers” (and yes, I LOVED it) has a scene in which an old cowboy )Curly) explains to a 40-year old (who thinks he is old) Bill Crystal that he must determine what the “one thing is” for him. And Billy wants Curly to tell him — but learns that this is another “it is within himself” exercise.
And I wrestled as a young person with what is that one thing?
Maybe what it is is valuing what works for each of us. Investing that time, energy, thought and pace into whatever it is.
And maybe it is just in the living.
Still laughing about an Amazon spoof on City Slickers meet Westworld now available and planning another hike,
Jennifer
