- All Episodes
- Preserving Our Lands and Developing Life Skills Through Nature | Jeffrey Ryan
Apr 19, 2023
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.
Find more from Darin:
Website:
https://darinolien.com/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/Darinolien/
Down to Earth:
https://darinolien.com/down-to-earth/
Find more from Jeffrey:
Website:
https://www.jeffryanauthor.com/
Instagram: @jeff_ryan_author
More links:
Pre-order my newest book
Fatal Conveniences: The Toxic Products and Harmful Habits That
Are Making You Sick―and the Simple Changes That Will Save Your
Health
on Amazon.