Mother Nature Gets a Bad Rap

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." - Helen Keller

When telling someone about your future outdoor excursions or adventures, far too often you hear over-the-top negative responses. Here are a few things that I have come across from discussions with people: "If you don't have cell phone service you'll most likely fall off a cliff and die or get eaten by a bear. Millions of people die camping every year from not going out in groups." My all time favorite, "If it is raining, you'll most likely catch pneumonia and die." It is safe to assume that every self proclaimed adventurer has heard something along these lines from those who do not understand or fear the outdoors.

The honest truth is that anything can happen. No matter where you are or what you're doing, anything is possible and sometimes the consequences are severe. The point of this blog is to take what people say with a grain of salt. One extreme side of the spectrum is people who believe that exploring nature is only meant for the animals, while the other side retaliates that society is more dangerous than mother nature could ever be. There is a happy medium. If you respect mother nature, and educate yourself on responsible practices then you can minimize risk just like anything else you do.

Sadly there are people who think they are above nature and #GetOutside with little regard to weather conditions or of other extraneous factors. They don't wear or bring the necessary equipment and accidents happen that push more and more people into subdivisions and big cities. These lackadaisical people are essentially ruining the outdoors for others. Scaring people about the outdoors doesn't get more people outside and definitely doesn't teach people how to be safe while they are getting outside. Instead, we should educate people by promoting safety and encouraging others to enjoy and respect the world we live in. 

I, for one, will never stop getting outside! No matter what happens you'll always hear about me going on adventures. If someone tells you that you can't do something or that something is too dangerous, educate yourself! Most things in life are dangerous if you do them blind. Open your eyes to adventure.