With longer days and warmer weather signaling spring and summer to follow, it feels as if the worst of the pandemic might be over (at least for now). I’ve been reflecting on the past year and our collective pandemic experience. I’ve also been looking ahead, trying my best to imagine what the future might be like.
“In each of our lives at various points along the way, we find ourselves in the Fog of Not Knowing—a period of transition, when the path, the plan, or the project is not yet clear. This period in between—whether for minutes or for months—is to be respected and honored; it is fertile and full of promise. If you can meet this void without grasping for the most convenient way out, what you discover will be beyond your expectations and imagination.” – Victoria Labalme
I have the sense that we all can use a little healing and some time to recover from the pandemic. Fear of unknown consequences of the virus, vaccines, etc.; anxiety and depression caused by isolation; concerns about the long-term effects of over-reliance on telecommunications, social media, and mass media in our daily lives…these are a few of the circumstances from which we might seek some healing and recovery. A couple of things come to my mind as ways we might do so.
First, it’s apparent to me that social isolation has been detrimental for us all. We need to be with other people; not just on Zoom calls but actually in person with other people without fear of being infected or infecting others. We suffer when we can’t interact freely with other people.
Second, being out in nature is a reliable way we can all begin to heal ourselves from the pandemic. I recently reflected on two events that we organized a few years ago that embodied these two points. The first was a hike on the Black Butte Trail in Grand Teton National Park.
One highlight of that experience was a 15 minute silent climb to the top of the trail, noticing the sights and sounds of the forest and quieting our own thoughts.
The second event was an overnight hiking-camping trip at the Darwin Ranch outside of Jackson, WY.
I remember sleeping under the stars without any ambient city lights, the constant sound of a magnificent waterfall in the background. It’s the sort of healing experience I’m imagining.
Finally, we all could focus on growing from our experiences; we could re-engage our curiosity, our sense of wonder and awe. Any hike in Grand Teton National Park is awe-inspiring because of the mountains and the scenery. In addition, our guide, naturalist Trevor Bloom, drew our attention to the wildflowers that he studies. To get a sense of the amazing details of the lives of these fragile plants was both interesting and again awe-inspiring. We are always grateful for the opportunity to spend quality time in nature with our clients and their families. Given the progression of combatting the pandemic, we intend to coordinate similar events in the upcoming months. Interested in an event for your family? Please contact us.
