The Simple Life

Before coming out here, I tried to recognize the true necessities of life. I sold my house and most of my belongings, trying to simplify. But, hiking in cold rain all day-sopping wet and coming to the end of your miles for the day, the appreciation for true basic needs becomes apparent:

Shelter and warmth.

And getting both of those before your body loses the heat you’ve acquired during the day. It makes me so thankful for the trash bag that lines my pack and keeps my clothes dry and the dry sack that contains my sleeping bag. Without these two simple items, a rainy day could quickly turn bad.

Not only do I appreciate the few items I carry with me on my back everyday, but I also have a new appreciation for entertainment on the trail:

Hot Sauces’ riddles, camp games and daily drawing in his sketch book give me something to look forward to everyday.

CPU shares about his adventures around the world and the storyline to the book he’s reading. He even tried to patiently teach me Dutch. (I’ve butchered that beautiful language)

Squirrel and I share fist bumps and pig calls in the woods to see if we’re near each other. (Ask me sometime and I might give it a hollar for ya)

We sing, laugh, have daily challenges and give our packs names with characteristics and super powers. We ask random questions and have deep meaningful conversations that we ponder on all day.

What I notice the most is how purely happy I am out here. Yes, there are cold, rainy, leg-aching days, but there’s still so much joy. Why so much joy when I have so little? It’s the simple things.

I eat what I have, because that’s what I have. I wear the same wet clothes everyday, because that’s what I have. And I have joy.

When we resupply in town, we appreciate everything so much: a good greasy meal, water that doesn’t need to be filtered, and a dry toilet seat. What more could you want?

This is an adventure of a lifetime that can’t last forever, but it makes me question why we work our butts off to buy huge houses, expensive cars, name brand clothes and just stuff. We’re missing out on the beauty and unadulterated experiences of this world. Why? Mainly to keep up with the Jones’. Or because someone convinced us having more would make us happy.

I’m not saying everyone needs to sell everything and go backpacking to find joy (although you should), but we can do better. We can turn our focus on basic needs, basic companionship, basic entertainment and have so much more joy than we ever expected.

I pray when I’m done with this trail, I won’t lose sight of this simple living and I’ll continue to chase after joy everyday.