Finding Myself

[Brian20o2]

I have been doing alot of thinking recently. Trying to figure out all kinds of things like my personal goals, morals, principles, etc. I got this idea on a walk today (Where I get most of my ideas) And it stuck out as a great way for me to find myself and truly define who I am inside.

The basic idea is that I would go on a 5 day hiking trip alone with just the essentials (No cereal or power bars, etc.), a journal to track my thoughts, and a digital camera to take pictures of nature. I think it would be a great personal growth experiance as well as just an awesome adventure.

I know that there are some great hiking and camping spots here in Washington and I would like to go caming in the cascade mountains. I would go with only enough food for the 5 days and the bare essentials, not even a tent. Just things like a knife, sleeping bag, toiletpaper, and fire starting stuff.

What do you guys think? I would like to do this this summer but I dont think I have the time, or the money (Im broke and school starts in 3 weeks). But I would prefer to do it before the year is up.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Do whatever is necessary to realize who you really are. It's time well spent and it will be a guiding light on your life's path.

 

[A-Unit]

Re:

You should do whatever your desire is.

I would be wary of such trips. I've never personally done it, nor found it suited me, but perhaps it would suit you. I'm currently reading a book titled "Into The Wilderness," (or something like that), and this particular chap abandoned his entire material existence to be one of traveling vagabond. He ended up dead in Alaska, no food, no weapons, no money. It's a true, yet wonderful story. It seems he lived fully, his way, but they'd found him with a note begging for help, that he was weak and couldn't get out of the forest at his current strength level. I say this not to scare people, but that a camping trip or sojourn of this nature is ONE of many.

Life is a path, not a destination, and one singular event isn't likely to define all else (unless you're in battle, saved someone from 9-11, etc, those sorts of things). By all means, if you're nearby and somewhat knowledgable, do it. And do it repeatedly. Steal away in any capacity necessary.

Society will tell you to live BY THEIR CLOCK. However, you should live by your own, whether that means college at 30, 40, or 50, being a dad at 21, 31, or 51, or never, marrying, never marrying, or divorcing; the only barometer by which life is measured is your own.


A-Unit

 

[Brian20o2]

Thanks guys. I know I want to do this, and Im not gonna be stupid about it. lol. The places where I want to go are about 2-3 hours from where I live. Of course I'll bring a cell phone or w/e in case of an emergency but this isn't like a death defying trip by any means. In my opinion the worst thing that will happen is I get wet and cold or Im a day late on the hike. Nothing to die over.

I just have this feeling like this will be very helpfull since I'm graduating and going out into the world next june. I want o have a path and direction and I think this will provide some insight into that.

 

[Shiftkey]

Thanks guys. I know I want to do this, and Im not gonna be stupid about it. lol. The places where I want to go are about 2-3 hours from where I live. Of course I'll bring a cell phone or w/e in case of an emergency but this isn't like a death defying trip by any means. In my opinion the worst thing that will happen is I get wet and cold or Im a day late on the hike. Nothing to die over.

That's what people think before they end up killing themselves in the wilderness.

Do you have any camping or backpacking experience? (the RV park does NOT count) Hiking alone for 5 days is a very foolish thing to do for a novice. Are there any bears where you plan on hiking? And if so, do you know how to set up a bear bag? Do you know how to purify water? Microorganisms in streamwater can easily make you sick. What food do you plan on bringing? There's absolutely nothing wrong with packing powerbars (most backpackers will recommend it).

 

[Brian20o2]

That's what people think before they end up killing themselves in the wilderness.

Do you have any camping or backpacking experience? (the RV park does NOT count) Hiking alone for 5 days is a very foolish thing to do for a novice. Are there any bears where you plan on hiking? And if so, do you know how to set up a bear bag? Do you know how to purify water? Microorganisms in streamwater can easily make you sick. What food do you plan on bringing? There's absolutely nothing wrong with packing powerbars (most backpackers will recommend it).

lol. Yes I have gone a couple of times before. There are no bears or even deer that I know of. I know how to purify water either throught boiling it for about 12 min or with the purifying tablets or just a portable purifier, I plan on bring food that won't spoil Going old school with stuff like Salted beef/pork/salmon and biscuits with butter, bacon and honey. Simple filling food. Also like I said I will carry a first aid kit and a cell phone in case of an emergency. And I plan on carrying a heavy duty hunting knife for cutting wood or anything else that needs it.

 

[Bible_Belt]

Visit your local Army surplus store. The military has good stuff, and surplus stores are cheap.

btw, your cel phone might not work in the woods, or the battery will go dead after a day or two, or you could get it wet, etc. If you buy any equipment at all, get a reliable emergency communication device as a backup. Crawling several miles with a broken leg is a difficult way to find yourself.

 

[Brian20o2]

Visit your local Army surplus store. The military has good stuff, and surplus stores are cheap.

btw, your cel phone might not work in the woods, or the battery will go dead after a day or two, or you could get it wet, etc. If you buy any equipment at all, get a reliable emergency communication device as a backup. Crawling several miles with a broken leg is a difficult way to find yourself.

lol. Good point. I'll see if we have one of those shops around here.

 

[Fletchrush17]

I suggest you mentally prepare yourself to finding yourself. Heaven forbid, you have some type of deep depression set in, and end up killing yourself. You might want to read some books before the fact to set yourself up mentally. Think and Grow Rich is not just a book about making money, it also given you a mindset to follow. It's similar to The Laws of Attraction...I'd dally a bit into that, especially autosuggestion before going on an adventure for soul searching.



Best of luck, this summer was dedicated to doing what you are trying to do. Not only have I improved physically, but mentally I am 10x as strong as before.

 

[Brian20o2]

I suggest you mentally prepare yourself to finding yourself. Heaven forbid, you have some type of deep depression set in, and end up killing yourself. You might want to read some books before the fact to set yourself up mentally. Think and Grow Rich is not just a book about making money, it also given you a mindset to follow. It's similar to The Laws of Attraction...I'd dally a bit into that, especially autosuggestion before going on an adventure for soul searching.



Best of luck, this summer was dedicated to doing what you are trying to do. Not only have I improved physically, but mentally I am 10x as strong as before.

Yeah. I have read Think and Grow Rich, watched The Secret, read other books on the subject too, I am almost finished with the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

I honestly dont think I have any deep set depression, just a deeply set uncertainty about my future, but I am working on that daily trying to figure out what I want to do and working on engraining powerfull positeve beliefs in my mind. I believe that If I were to do this 5 years ago I might go suicidal but not anymore.

I have been working on 'building my temple' that is me. Mentally, physically, and spiritually this whole summer. I think that going on this trip might delve into the final depths of my concious and thought. Then maybe a year later do this again to finalize it and laminate my powerfull positive mindset.

I know that deep change takes time and that is why I would like to separate myself from all influence for a while to get this change.