There’s something about waking up at dawn, on top of a mountain, blanketed by mist, still aching from the climb the day before, that sets my heart racing. The sun appearing through a valley in a distant mountain range, warming the very air in my lungs, speaking to the pain in my muscles, is one of the most exhilarating feelings I have experienced. Living in a city surrounded by bustling noises and exhaust fumes, I constantly find myself longing for an escape to remote mountain ranges or secluded beaches. Backpacking helps me escape and explore myself and my surroundings; it also helps me put stress into perspective.
Stress is a huge component of our society. We seem to be constantly on the edge. It’s as if the task of living, sprinkled with responsibilities, has stopped us from living life in a way that makes us happy. Depression has been found to be on the rise among the working class. I think this comes down to the way we approach things and how we choose to cope with them. As an introverted, stuttering , 90’s kid, I tend to look for solutions to this precarious problem by searching for activities or habits that are usually from my time (Many of us 90’s kids grew up playing under the sun, making paper boats on rainy days, climbing trees and cycling further than we were allowed to). Don’t get me wrong, I’ve gone from playing with tamagotchis to seeing virtual reality being ushered into our lives. Technology has and does constantly blow my mind. But, it does help to step away from it all, once in a while.
Our lives seem to have been overridden by little blue pop-up notifications. Our train of thoughts seems to constantly get extinguished by the sudden vibration of our phones, telling us that there seems to be something new happening in our social life. We are forced to juggle a bunch of things while never having the time to sit down and think about one thing completely. This constant noise and intrusion into our sanity seems to be getting to us as a species. Or is it just me?
Backpacking can be a wondrous relief from our day-to-day lives. Studies have shown that outdoor and adventure recreation, such as backpacking, mountain climbing and any other activities that throws us in the "deep end", have been found to equip your brain and body with the ability to cope with stress. So, not only does doing something like climbing a dangerous mountain help relieve stress, it actually helps our bodies build up an immunity, of sorts, towards stress. I find that putting a stop to the monotonous rollercoaster of work life can be beneficial to our mind and body.
The adrenaline and stress of an adventure are better than a thousand peaceful days ― Paulo Coelho
Adventure sports and backpacking have the ability to help us cope with a lot more than stress. It is, in my opinion, a great way to get to know our weaknesses and strengths. Getting into challenging situations can be a great way to keep our egos in check too. Walking through rainforests, beneath the shade of trees that are hundreds of years old or watching the constellations of stars reveal themselves in the night sky, can help us realise how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of the universe. Life will go on, with or without us.
One of the most memorable things that happen to me during my backpacking adventures is when I connect with someone. This person can be a stranger or someone who’s travelling with me. As a person who views "connection" as a trait that I can live without, actually connecting with someone is like a breath of fresh air. The introvert in me, who prefers to live in the shadows of bustling, noisy cities, is put into perspective. Connection becomes easier as the walls that I place myself in are slowly knocked down. I think this boils down to the fact that when we travel to unknown locations, we automatically reach out more. Staring at screens is replaced with randomly smiling at strangers or trying to find our way to the destination.
If you ever find yourself trekking through the jungle, pause! Listen to the sounds of insects and rustling leaves. Feel the dew on the plants and smell the aromas that make a jungle such a tranquil place. Climb as many mountains as you can and watch the sunrise from the peak. Swim in the ocean. Cross a desert. Dance with rainbows under waterfalls. Nature truly does have the power to help us unwind; we just need to embrace it. For centuries, man has relied on nature to help him survive and grow spiritually. It has and always will play a huge part in our existence; something we need to understand sooner, rather than later.
So, if stress comes knocking, go on an adventure. If you feel that things are getting too noisy, escape to a quiet retreat or get away from technology for a while. Everyone has his/her own ways of coping with stress; it’s important to take the time to figure out what works for you. Stress is just a matter of perception. Step out of your box and view things from different angles. Explore. Live. Laugh. Appreciate.
No, no! The adventures first, explanations take such a dreadful time - Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass