001: Boredom ...

Why its your ancestors fault & how to escape monotony:

 

Do you ever hear a voice inside of you that calls out for a deeper connection? 

The primal nature of our existence is something we will never shake.  However, being fortunate enough to exist in a period of time where we stand atop the pyramid of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs our primal nature manifests very differently today than it has for the vast majority of human history.  Humans today are living with a significantly higher level of security which has created a void for our brains to endlessly wander.  And our primal nature fills in the passing of the time by constantly considering worries about the future, regrets about the past and an increased demand for immediate satiation in the present.  More simply put we are now creatures whose minds bounce between anxiety and gluttony like a 1990s tennis match between Sampras and Aggassi.  

 

At this point you may find yourself asking:

How can we break the mold without going back to the loin cloth lifestyle? 

Unfortunately the answer for you is: I'm not sure, but for me I have found that pursuing activities that check 3 specific boxes generally does the trick.  

  1. Lifelong Learning

  2. Evolving what success looks like

  3. A tangible outcome as the result of calculable effort 

Pursue things that force you to be present that you can do for the rest of your life.

For some people that will come in an activity that can fall under the broad umbrella known as “art” which is a worthwhile pursuit because not ONE SINGLE HUMAN will ever contribute what you contribute to the world in your artistic endeavors.

For me that comes in the form of activities that require a convening with nature.  The following is a list of pursuits that I have been fortunate enough to explore over the better part of the past decade, some even longer

  • Spearfishing and Trad Fishing

  • Hunting both with a Bow and a Rifle

  • Snowboarding and Mountaineering

  • Camping and Hiking 

  • Surfing & Paddle boarding

  • (and handstands)

I hope to use this outlet as a way to share and catalog my adventures and findings as I have come to the realization that I will be doing these things as long as I am alive and able …  Over the coming weeks, months and years you can expect content in the form of writing, photography, video and podcast that explore these rabbit holes, what I have learned as well as what these pursuits have taught me.  So stay tuned for our lifelong series: Rogue Woodsman Adventures