I’m Darin Olien, the “Superfood Hunter.” If you’re looking for motivation to take the next step towards a happier, healthier life then you’re in the right place. On this podcast, you’ll hear honest conversations with extraordinary people that educate and inspire me. We cover everything from nutrition and mental health to sustainable ways of living. We also dive into life's Fatal Conveniences™. These are the things that we're doing or consuming in our day-to-day life that may actually be harming us, or the Earth.
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Preserving Our Lands and Developing Life Skills Through Nature | Jeffrey Ryan
How often are you immersed in nature on a weekly basis? For some of you, that question actually might be, how often are you immersed in nature on a monthly basis? Ideally we can get into nature daily, but in today’s society, that often feels nearly impossible. This is what we are going to chat about today with guest Jeffrey Ryan, who recognizes the challenges of getting back to nature in today's society and provides solutions on how to do so. In this episode, Jeffrey and I discuss the deep need to connect to nature for our overall well being, the difficulties we face connecting to nature in our urban society, and the imbalances in the world from an environmental perspective. But most importantly, we talk about why it’s important to preserve and manage land and the exciting prospect of “rewilding”. Jeffrey Ryan is an author and speaker known for his travel and outdoor adventure writing. Ryan's books include "Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-Year Hike on America's Trail," "Blazing Ahead: Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, and the Rivalry that Built the Appalachian Trail," and "Hermit: The Mysterious Life of Jim Whyte." In his writing, Ryan combines his interests in nature, history, and storytelling to create engaging narratives that inspire readers to explore the outdoors and learn about the past. What we discuss: 12:56: About Jeffrey 18:23: Why should you make being outdoors a priority? 22:21: What skills can you gain from hiking? 31:21: How is the preservation of nature enforced? 37:59: Where does the awareness of the preservation of nature come from? 49:35: What are the challenges that National Parks face? 53:05: Why don’t people grasp the importance of our lands? 56:45: What are we doing right and wrong when it comes to taking care of our land? 01:04:25: What can nature teach us about ourselves? Key takeaways:
- Our land belongs to all of us. It belonged to the people before us, to us, and the next generations. Thus, the importance of preserving it. Our lands were protected throughout generations and through plenty of civilizations for a reason; they were saved for us because our lands are what allowed past generations to survive. This brings the question: why are we trying to destroy land that was saved for us?
- These are life skills that most of us tend to develop through experience, as life goes by. But what if we could gain these useful life skills a lot faster and under better terms? Hiking in nature can help you gain this life skill. When you’re in nature without any help from the outside world, you have to learn how to deal with the spontaneous things the forest may throw at you. Whether it’s a trail being blocked by a fresh stream that wasn’t there before or a tree blocking your way, these situations help build that problem-solving muscle. As you experience more of these types of situations where you have to think on your feet, the easier it will be for you to deal with the next one coming your way, whether it’s in the forest or at work.
- Sometimes, spending time with nothing else but ourselves is the thing we are most scared to do. That’s why we listen to podcasts on our walks and blast music on our speakers when we shower. But when we do that, we’re missing out on the opportunity to reflect and look within, which is important for our personal growth. This is why it’s important to take time with yourself seriously and to completely disconnect and learn to spend time with your thoughts in nature.