How often do you take a break from the worldly expectations of parenting, career advancement, mundane responsibilities, et cetera? When is the last time you sought out the sacred silence? What if I told you that taking time for yourself without external distractions is essential to discovering your inner truth? Many people are uncomfortable with silence let alone solitude and are not aware of the underlying growth opportunities. Each of us is capable of answering many of our life’s burning questions if we only allowed the opportunity to listen to the wisdom within.

I’m in my seventh year utilizing the healing power of nature to overcome not only the trauma I experienced in my life, but the generational trauma expressed in my genes. When I started my nature based healing journey I didn’t initially realize that was the purpose of my solo adventures. I was hooked on how much I was able to process on the trail and the renewed strength I felt once I got back to my responsibilities. After my first backpacking trip in 2016 I began to realize what I was capable of and the healing potential walking the earth offered.

Reminiscing on the time when I was living in survival mode as a single mom, student, and employee to multiple employers, I realized how incredible it was that my inner guide helped me release enormous amounts of stress. I was fortunate to have a kind friend, who was once a stranger, be willing to take my kids for the weekend so I could run away once a semester for the weekend by myself. That time alone was critical to the successful completion of my undergraduate degree, against all odds. Big thanks to all the kind strangers who supported my kiddos and I during that arduous milestone!

I’m fortunate that my future husband and children understand how important it is for me to run away for a day or two by myself. I come back a better version of myself with a clearer vision of who I am and who I want to become. I strive for at least quarterly excursions in the mountains seeking solitary wellness. I utilize this time to center my frazzled, anxious psyche from the burdens of energetic vampirism also known as commercialized civilization.

All it takes is wide open spaces, the elements soaking into my pores, and the sounds of nature to reset my adrenal system. I’m able to transition into my core self to process and transform my awareness to all aspects of time. As if I am my own outside observer, my awareness begins a diagnosis of my past, current, and future paths. I am given insight on how to improve my life and the world around me. I have a deep call to serve others, but navigating that call meaningfully through the haze of survival mode has been challenging to implement.

Through adventure I awake from the zombified state that the modern world instills. I come back home with the shackles of anxiety and depression temporarily removed. In its place I’m blooming with hope and heightened clarity. Sadly it doesn’t take long once I’m back to my unfulfilling routine to dampen my spirits and hurl me back to the depths of despair. This has left me highly distracted in the pursuit of the life I am truly meant to live. I’ve decided that this is not only unsustainable, but it goes back to the core of our modern problems. We are disconnected from ourselves in our daily lives because it’s easier to just stay the course than to break free and change.

This year is a pivotal year for my development as I’m preparing to get married and join my trio into an official family of four. I have been driven for a long time to break down the barriers of generational trauma, but I didn’t realize I also had to join the fragments of my wounded inner psyche. If you haven’t heard of the Animas Valley Institute, I highly recommend you explore their website and read the book Soulcraft. The author, Bill Plokin, has completely blown my mind and awareness wide open to how much work I need to embark on in order to offer my soul’s gifts to my family and the world.

I am incredibly grateful to be an imperfect human seeking to connect to what “progress” has been attacking since the inception of civilization. I am one example of the power that nature has to offer to the wounded. Thank goodness for all the people past and present who ensured the protection of the lands that provide sacred healing powers. The healing power is only possible if one is willing to face the unnerving shadows along the way. As Edward Abbey would say, “May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.” My wish for anyone reading this is to give your inner voice the validation it deserves. You have the answers, you just need patience and the sanctity of silence to receive.