Finding a Better Connection

There is no Wi-Fi in the forest, but I promise you will find a better connection. —Ralph Smart

Summer’s here. Time to get outdoors. I love being outside so much that I’ve had the unique experience of living on the Appalachian Trail for two years. Well… kind of.

My apartment, on Main Street in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, was located right along the trail’s path as it crossed town and continued over the Delaware Water Gap Bridge into New Jersey. It sat across from the historic Deer Head Inn, where the sounds of jazz drifted into the evening air, just a short walk from the Mount Minsi trailhead.

For the 20 years prior, I lived on the banks of the Delaware River in the village of Shawnee, where I hosted annual hiking, biking and kayaking adventures with family and friends. And for nearly 30 years, I spent countless hours outdoors at beautiful places in nature searching for “True Gravity” with my Shivas Irons Society and Fairway to Heaven golfing mates. Ah, yes—the good old days.

These days, I find myself sitting behind a desk far too often, needing to practically negotiate with myself just to get outside for a lunchtime walk around the neighborhood. Something’s gotta give. Any ideas? The truth is, I already know the answer; chances are you do too.

Our bodies, minds and spirits are designed to reconnect with the natural world. The beauty of nature is that it does not demand an expedition to a mountaintop or a weeklong wilderness retreat. Sometimes the greatest healing can come from a simple walk beneath the trees, feeling sunshine on our face, listening to birds sing or pausing long enough to notice the breeze moving through the leaves.

Research continues to confirm what our souls have known all along: time outdoors can improve our mood, reduce stress, sharpen our thinking and remind us that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Whether it’s hiking a trail, paddling a quiet river, practicing yoga in the grass, gardening in the backyard or simply sitting on a porch watching a summer sunset, nature offers us an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply and return to the present moment.

The best connection we can make this summer isn’t through a device at all. It is a connection to the earth beneath our feet, the people beside us and the gratitude within us.

So, here’s my challenge – to you and to myself: close the laptop, silence the phone, step outside and rediscover the wonders waiting in your own backyard. The signal is strong out there. Let’s reconnect with nature, reconnect with ourselves and continue feeling good, living simply and laughing more.

Stay cool,

Dave Korba, Publisher