31 Life Lessons From the Outdoors

A hunker day on a frosty mountainside provided Bea with some extra reflection time. When she made her way down, she had a collection of life lessons she wanted to share with the world.

Over the last few years, I’ve started the tradition of heading off on an outdoor adventure for my birthday.

This year, I ended up in a tiny tin shed on a snow-covered mountain in the Pyrenees.

She almost blends into the mountain

Some unexpected bad weather had me hunkered up there for a day longer than planned. So, I took this cosy opportunity to do some reflecting. I find the best insights come from moments like these.

My birthday is the 31st of March, and I was turning 31. So, I thought, why not try and see if I could come up with 31 life lessons so far? What had I learnt? How had I grown? And what lessons in particular did I want to remember and cultivate more?

More of this? Maybe not much

After a few hours of writing and many cups of tea, I ended up with a half-decent list. And whilst I’m still working on incorporating these into my life, I thought they might be worth sharing in case they’re interesting or useful to you, too.

Lessons from awe-inspiring moments in the outdoors to more challenging times and trips gone haywire. What we can learn from the rhymes and cycles of nature. Bits of wisdom from family, friends, and mentors, and some nice little reminders I try to come back to regularly.

Bunkering down in here gave me plenty of time to mull things over

31 little life lessons scribbled down at 2,400m in a ramshackle hut in the Pyrenees

1. Be kind. To yourself and others. You never know what people are going through

2. Show your gratitude. Give positive feedback, say thanks, and send cards of appreciation

3. Don’t rush. Let things take the time they need, and enjoy the process

5. Meditation works. And you’ll never get ‘there’. There is no final destination but rather a lifelong process. Find ways to be mindful, even just for ten minutes of breathing a day

6. ‘First things first, second things never’. Multitasking is a myth

7. Get out into nature every day. Not everyone has access to green spaces or the outdoors. Be grateful for those places and soak them up. Fresh air, an open sky, and going bush are often the best antidotes to crunchy feelings

8. Cups of warm somethings are always appreciated

9. Food is the best gift. Especially homemade marmalade!

10. Rest. If you don’t choose a time to rest, your body will choose one for you. Remember that nothing in nature blooms all year round

11. Eat something alive every day. Get fresh veggies and ferments (soy, tempeh, kimchi, kombucha) in each day if you can. Your gut and brain will thank you for it

12. Pay attention. And listen without judgment. It’s the biggest sign of love and respect

13. Smile. It’s free and delightful. But you also don’t have to placate or avoid discomfort

15. Less is more. Find your enough. Be mindful of the stuff you consume and accumulate. Choose better materials, buy less, fix your stuff, support good brands, and remember the people who made your ‘stuff’ and where it ends up

16. Shake the hand that feeds you. Support local and regenerative agriculture farmers, visit farmers’ markets, eat real food, mostly plants, not too much

17. Look up. Soak in the view. Especially in the outdoors, but this also works in cities. Pause, take a moment to breathe, and just ‘be’ for a minute or two

18. Climb higher mountains. Literally and figuratively. Challenge yourself, do the hard thing, and seek out opportunities to go to the edge of your comfort zone

Check!

19. Don’t get caught up in being ‘busy’. Nor wear it as a badge of honour. There’s a big difference between going somewhere fast and going somewhere good. Movement isn’t always progress

20. Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t compare your start to someone else’s middle or end. Explore the ways you like to live and try it that way instead

21. You can be many things at once. Scared and excited. Expert and still learning. Life isn’t binary. Celebrate your many talents and feelings

22. Feed your curiosity. Keep exploring. Ask questions. Follow your quirky little interests and passions and see where they take you

24. Don’t plant a seed you can’t water. You can’t do it all. Pause before you pounce and learn to say no to extra commitments you can’t follow through on

25. ‘You can go fast alone, but go far together’. You can’t know or do everything. And you wouldn’t want to. It’s okay to ask for help, and working in teams is the best way to get stuff done and have fun

26. We are all products of our communities. Do away with individualistic thinking and strive for a life of community service and contribution

27. Slow down. In a world that prioritises speed and constant doing, practise patience and appreciation for the slower and softer ways of doing things

Like taking time to draw the scenery rather than a quick phone snap

28. Wonky feelings are a good thing. They might not feel great at the time, but there’s probably a reason you’re feeling that way. All feelings are valid, welcome, and part of being human

30. Let go. Try not to hold grudges. Forgive yourself and others. Don’t take it personally

31. Make mistakes. It’s all part of learning, growing, and being human

The next morning, I peeked my head out of the door to catch the sun rising over the frosty mountains. Soft clouds were floating across the horizon, dappled in morning sunshine that lit up the fresh snow. The storm had passed.

We indulged in hot cowboy coffee and warm hot cross buns before setting off into knee-deep snow to make the most of the weather window.

Hiking down the mountain, I was already scheming next year’s birthday adventure. I was completely caught up in thought, and my brain was buzzing with ideas. I had to catch myself and remember life lesson 17. I paused for a moment to look out at the rolling mountains and blue skies.

And the horses too!

Taking a few deep breaths and soaking in the view, I thought that perhaps the most important lesson of them all was to be more present in times like these. To find more pockets of time, however short, to spend in the outdoors.  More time, wherever possible, to cosy up in tiny huts on the mountains and do some reflecting. I might just do this every year.