"The Gift Of Experiences..."

Most of us bestow things upon one another during this season of giving... I have often mused, and written about here, over the nature of another kind of offering... This is a deeper kind of present for another, or as an endowment maybe for ourselves, which holds out such potent and significant meanings...

Remember... what you felt so strongly during that river rafting trip; recall the energy and emotions when out on those trails of your favorite hikes; think for a moment about when you were sea kayaking to that coastal island you were sure no one had ever set foot upon...

Feel again those same sensations, that enchanting sense of wonder, when you attained that very first summit; go back and relive that special time when a certain spirit animal appeared in the trees before you, just when you needed it so...

All of these knowings, and so many more from out there, are the gifts of adventure experiences. These are the gifts that the wild places wrap up for each of us, that we give ourselves too when we head out, that we also present to others in so many shared ways - the gift of experiences...

So, remember too, that canyoneering day when you pushed so hard to get beyond yourself; that very long rappel into the the mists so memorable; the times lowering into the depths of those caves so dark and yet so illuminating... all are also such potent and powerful gifts of experiences...

We do give one another, and ourselves, such nice things at times - yet a gift of experience holds another level of enduring beauty within it...

That which we experience out there, and then weave into our experiences back here, are truly meaningful offerings - of smiles and laughter, of challenges and effort, of sunshine and tears - these are bestowed upon us through journeys within the wild places... They become branded in our memories; they touch us in our very hearts; and they are always there to further inspire our spirits... Such life defining moments we meet with and undergo out there, regardless of when solo or those shared in fellowship, is what is really at the end of any rainbow. Then if we pass forward these adventure experiences, they then become a gift twice given... and that is a beautiful experience too...

So, in the spirit of this season of sharing and giving, do I wish for you Dear Friends, Dear Finders, that the gift of experiences becomes a bountiful cherished present within your lives...

DSD

"Stand Tall..... Be Proud....."

At that distinct point, when you know inside yourself, when your adventure goal, your wild place project is finally attained...

Then stand tall... be proud...

You planned and prepared as best as any of us could.

You have walked through the coals and made this real.

You now are where you envisioned yourself wanting to be...

So, stand tall... be proud...

When at your high point on this journey, it is important to pause, to savour and enjoy that moment in the process.

Take the time to look out over the four points of your compass if you are standing upon a summit, at the end of that trail, maybe looking over those waters, or simply now returning to camp...

All the steps you have taken this year, the efforts you have made, navigating the inherent trials always present, feeling the contentment and the excitement...

And, stand tall... be proud...

Yes, there are traditions which share that we are never as 'great' as our greatest accomplishments; nor as downcast as our worst setbacks... Even accepting this, it is still important to glance back, to gaze upon where we have stood before, and where we stand now.

Quiet and heartfelt celebrations of our journeys in this way are important and so very meaningful...

Again, stand tall... be proud...

Being proud in certain ways - developing an internal pride of the quiet kind has real energy and is another way of propelling ourselves further still; a powerful means to sustain our momentum...

So, Dear Finders, Dear friends, stand tall... be proud...

And then rejoin us at your launch point, back near the waters edge, maybe at tree line, and share your story with us of how at that moment this year in your adventurous life, you found yourself, standing tall... being proud...

DSD

"The Fellowship Of The Wild Places..."

"Walk tall as the trees, live strong as the mountains, be gentle as the spring winds, keep the warmth of the summer sun in your heart... I have been to the end of the earth, I have been to the end of the waters, I have been to the end of the sky, I have been to the end of the mountains, I have found none that are not my friends..." North American Aboriginal Proverb

Such wild place friendliness... such fellowship out there among the elements, from our partners in adventures, from those who also wander the pathways and trails... to each of us this sunny December day...

DSD

My sincere appreciation to Trevor Anderson for the above amazing feeling images:

http://flickr.com/photos/24767994@N00/

"On The Summit I Say Their Names..."

Having never shared this before, I pondered if I should... but it is my sense I am not the only one at all who practices this very private, very old tradition...

On the summit I say their names... I safely stand up among the clouds, face the sun or moon, often into the wind, close my eyes, and slowly say their names aloud...

I say the names of past fellows who have journeyed the path with me; the guides and wild place teachers who have shared their hard earned wisdom; the close family and friends who still walk the same trails today...

I say the names of those who are now gone from these particular elements; the ones who knew and accepted me for who I am with all my flaws and faults; especially the ones who have challenged me to become something more...

I say the names of those who made us laugh; each one who shared a tear with me; and those whose courage and resiliency I believe have been an example for us all...

On the summit I say their names... and practice an ages old quiet tradition of respect, of acknowledgement, of remembering, of bringing the past back to the present... An ages old tradition of becoming grateful...

And when we are each gone, when we are no longer among the wild places but have become a part of them instead, I hope to hear my name and yours carried out there among the winds when someone on a summit says them out loud.....

DSD