The art of being there

 I seldom hike or kayak to GET somewhere. Rather, I hike and paddle to BE somewhere.

When I head into the woods, it is most often to get away from people. Now don't get me wrong. I lOVE people and my projects are all built upon teaching, leading, and motivating people! But for me, the silence and solitude of being in the woods is the yin to the yang of hanging with humans. I need it. It is the counterbalance to community.

The key to BEING there is to blend in, to be silent, to disappear. When chipmunks are running across your legs and eagles fly in and perch directly above you, and fish jump into your boat, you have achieved it! You are truly  there. 

And when I DO hike or bike or paddle to GET somewhere, I actually try to GO somewhere. To have a destination, a purpose. I bike where I would have driven. I run where I might have biked. I walk or kayak where I could not go otherwise. By substituting forms of physical activity for otherwise passive motorcading, I never have to GO exercise! I think Life should be like that.