Wednesday, August 29, 2012

An Open Letter


An Open Letter to My Readers            

            Go.
Such a simple word, but one that I think has the power to change one’s life for the better.
 I have been blessed in that, from a young age, I have lived an outdoor life. Whether it has been exploring the woods, casting a line into a farm pond, or staring up at the stone monoliths of Yosemite Valley, nature and travel have always been a part of who I am. And I believe I’m better off because of it.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” –Mark Twain
            That probably wasn’t the first time you heard that quote. This time, however, pause for a second and think about what he was really saying. Sure, he was using travel and exploration as a metaphor for taking chances in all aspects of life, but maybe this was because he understood that being outside, seeing new places and things, are truly life-changing experiences.
            Go.
            It doesn’t matter if you’re going to the heart of Africa or simply the local woods.
            I’ve heard the phrase “nature’s classroom” used to describe the learning process that takes place away from civilization. I can only hope that more people will learn the lessons that I have from nature, and the only way to do this is simply to go.
            Nature and travel teach you not only about other places and things, but also about yourself. I’ve learned that the world can be harsh and ugly, and that sometimes the only thing you can do is sit there and take it. But I’ve also seen things more beautiful than I could ever describe.
            Go.
            There’s no excuses to be made such as “I don’t have the time” or “It costs too much money.”
 I’ve been on trips that lasted several weeks and cost thousands of dollars. I’ve also spent an afternoon exploring the river near my college where the only expense was driving 10 miles to get there.
I learn something new every time I’m outdoors. Sometimes it’s a new revelation that I hadn’t expected. Sometimes it’s the reaffirmation that, just like the Discovery Channel slogan, the world is just awesome.
Go.
See you out there.

                                                                                    John Sittler 
                                                                                                Franklin College
                                                                                                August 29, 2012

8 comments:

  1. As an outdoorsman myself I really like this article and can relate to it. I feel like you perfectly described why and how adventire can be so awesome.

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  2. Interesting take you took on this article I liked it.

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  3. Makes me want to head outside myself. If it wasn't for the residue of Hurricane Isaac pounding against the windows I just may do that.....

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  4. Very good! Like Chase said, it makes me want to go outside! Excited to follow your blog since I don't know too much about outdoor sports!

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  5. Very nice. I love just going out to the middle of nowhere and exploring. The outdoors are just great.

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  6. Interesting view. I can't say i'm an outdoors extremist, but going out and just exploring the world is something I would love to do more of. A lot of times we get shelled up in our own little world and don't realize that our world isn't even a speck on the real world.

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  7. When it is so easy these days to stay inside and play video games I'm glad you decided to write about outdoor sports. My family owns about 35 wooded acres and my friends and I spent hours running around and enjoying nature. I only wish more people had that opportunity. Look forward to reading this.

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  8. This post made me want to grab a pair of hiking boots and hit the trails. I don't own a pair of hiking boots so I will continue to live vicariously through your outdoor sports blog. Looking forward to it!

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