This book transformed my life in the past year

It’s not ‘self-help’, and it’s not a novel

It has become a cliché to talk about how the past two years have changed our collective relationship with nature and the outdoors. Cut off from our usual workplaces, from our hobbies, and for those in strict lockdown where only a brief outdoor walk or run per day was possible (how crazy was that in retrospect), many people took anew to outdoor walking, hiking, sea swimming or simply paying renewed attention to household plants and garden wildlife. The outdoors was one of our only escapes from the digitization of life which was accelerated by the pandemic (think Zoom calls, online shopping, 24-hour crypto trading, Facebook’s push to a fully online life etc…).

I have always been a huge lover of the outdoors. From intrepid explorations of nearby fields and building sites as a kid, to becoming a regular hiker and trail runner as a young adult, and more recently taking up surfing and other watersports. I also use my regular city walk(s) as a way to reboot the mind and body during the day, escape the office chair, ponder some work or life questions, or digest a heavy meal before bed. However, during lockdown times, even I got a bit tired of my regular walking loops. My need for immersion in nature or exploring somewhere new wasn’t quite satiated by my daily suburban routes. I have also long wanted to increase my knowledge of the natural world, with only a superficial idea of the incredible trees, plants and animals I would see around me. Enter the greatest book I read (and re-read) last year, and one which has brought about a very tangible transformation of my daily life.

I find it difficult to put into words the extent of the impact this book has had on my daily life. Perhaps an appropriate analogy would be the difference between watching a sport as a first time casual spectator versus when you have taken part yourself and understand the nuances, the intricacies and immense achievements of the professionals. Now, the simple weeds growing at the corner of a building wall, or the lichens staining the concrete pavement on my street tell a story of light, life, and nature’s interaction with our built world.

Did you know that nettles only grow near the built environment and rarely in the wild, as they are dependent and phosphate and nitrogen — byproducts of human dwelling? When I step out of my home now, the first thing I do is to look up at the sky and observe the shape, type and direction of the clouds. Then I feel the wind on my back and make a forecast of the weather conditions for the next few hours. As I stroll along familiar paths I examine tree roots to get a sense of direction as well as the usual weather conditions in the area. I look for clues of animal activity at the base of the tree or near fences and hedgerows. I have an appreciation for the wealth of diversity of plants, trees and small animals in the area. In doing so I come closer the the fabled feeling of being “at one with nature” but in a very real and tangible way. I sense and appreciate the changing of the seasons more closely, in a much more enjoyable way than forever longing for the summer to come. I also feel more present, as I am paying attention to my surroundings out of genuine interest and fascination.

During night time walks when there is any kind of clear sky, I try to seek out a space with minimal street light. This can be difficult when living close to the city, but there are always a few patches to be found; an unlit bridge across a small canal or river, a local park, or a friend’s back garden. From there I can pick out the big constellations — Cassiopeia and the Plough indicating north, Orion and his belt aiming south (harkening back to a previous post, Winston Churchill once used Orion to guide his way back to safety after escaping from a South African prison — you never know when this knowledge could come in handy..). On a very clear night it becomes possible to make out some of the lesser known constellations such as the Scorpion, as well as planets, shooting stars and satellites. Apart from the sense of satisfaction that comes with orienting oneself using natural waypoints, observing the night sky cannot help but grant one a feeling of awe when musing upon the giant stars and planets thousands of miles away, as well as forging a connection with our ancestors who observed the same night sky, and used it as a guide as well as building myths and stories from the same constellations.

The final part of the book (and Gooley’s other book Wild Signs and Star Paths, or in the US, The Nature Instinct) which has influenced my life the past year is re-instilling a sense of adventure. From hearing of Gooley’s own tails of venturing into the Scottish highlands grossly unequipped as a teenager, to a four-day journey from the top to the bottom of the island of Crete using only natural navigational tools, I found again my desire to journey into the nearby hills, reading the landscape, getting a bit lost and having to navigate my way back out. I have taken new journeys across familiar hills and the experience has been far richer than anything I had experienced before. As I get older and time becomes more precious, I am being more intentional in giving time to such adventures, planning them out further in advance to make sure they happen. I think my companions appreciate this as well, and the many clues and signs make our walks more interesting for all.

I read quite a few books last year, many in a self-improvement vain, but without doubt when I see this book on my table I am filled with a fondness that I cannot compare to any other book. There are portions that I re-read, as each page is so dense with interesting information and tips that I want to try them out for myself on my next walk. Indeed, it took me a while to get through the book on first go, as after reading a couple of pages I would be filled with the desire to get up and go. I can hardly think of a greater recommendation for any book, than one that spurs us to action in the ‘real world’ and enriches our interaction with it. Needles to say the impact of all of this is not just to make my daily walks more enjoyable, but this has developed into a better mood on a daily basis, a feeling of greater presence, and a motivation to plan and work towards new adventures. In short, to make for a more enriching and enjoyable life in general.

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