Well after surviving my second trip to Wal-Mart during the Black Friday weekend, I came to realize; we all may have too much stuff. Regardless of your economic standing, the fact that you're reading this express somewhat of your collection of stuff over the years. Now my second trip was chore related, had to pick up an air filter and some extra strands of light for decorations, and the day before I was in a particularly festive mood having purchase new toys for my kids. Unfortunately, here we are three days after Black Friday, the store still had a frantic feeling and then seeing the customer service area’s lines already backed up with preemptive returns, started to depress me.
I missed being outside hiking or camping where the only focus was what tasks I had to get done before night fall. Getting disgusted with all the excess we surround ourselves with really made me long for a very minimal setting. I think it’s about two and a half days out in the woods before I feel the true decompression from modern society; and to tell you the truth nothing makes me happier than my journal back to civilization. This of course followed by the overwhelming feeling of appreciation about the time and place I live.
It’s what some may refer to as a win-win. Bushcrafting out in the woods is filled with struggle and discomfort, but also great accomplishment and serenity. Then when you leave the woods you can feel such an appreciation for what you have. So as I watch those returning there recently procured High Def Televisions, I wonder what if any experiences that person may have to appreciate that item. Although this may sound as a judgment I assure you it is not, for I realize that those persons are me. I reflect on the question “Do I appreciate the stuff I have accumulated over my tenure on planet Earth?”
Not that I shun the TV or the Computer or anything modern within reason, it just seems a reoccurring truth keeps on flagging me down. The simple struggles and challenges, accomplishments and appreciation, our friends and families should be the cornerstone of what drives us, not the next mission in our war of collecting stuff.
-Adam
