8 days. 8 nights. No internet. No cell coverage. Add for good measure a river-drowned cell phone meant to serve as my camera and you’re all caught up on our family vacation to the bottom of The Grand Canyon.
Given those circumstances, how do you think you’d fare?
When the only distractions are the physical and mental challenges necessary to survive white water rafting the Colorado River while marveling at the enormity of The Canyon itself and the geological history present in its relentless erosion, it has a way of sharpening your focus.
Add 3 consecutive days of 115+ degree weather with nary a hint of rain to the middle of the trip and it’s not hard to imagine the ways those factors started to wreak havoc on our brains. A healthy dose of COVID_19 fear only managed to further complicate what was already a significant test to the 7-person deep Burnett family resolve. We all managed through the trip battling our discomfort, fear, and uncertainty in unique ways; ways that weren’t always filled with smiles and laughs.
Most of our daily post-lunch activities took the form of hikes into side canyons, hikes that presented a separate set of challenges unto themselves; climbing uneven dry riverbeds, canyoneering to spots not possible to reach by foot alone and traversing ledges not much wider than the average human foot. It was during these hikes and the ensuing rest that awaited the successful hiker that even those few minor distractions disappeared, leaving each of us with nothing more than our thoughts, the occasional paperback, sketch pad or journal or a nap in the early afternoon heat.
Traveling to places like The Grand Canyon has a way of reminding the traveler of the relative insignificance of the human species to this planet we call home. While we’ve only inhabited this rock for a few centuries, we’re reminded at the bottom of The Canyon just how miniscule our presence has been in the arc in the history of the planet, yet, it didn’t take long once we’d finished our trip to be reminded of our own arrogance, the way our environmental impact is outsized in comparison to our time here on Earth.
As I’ve written here the last few months, those of you reading this likely are going through the most significant upheavals of your lives, and as a result, society has increasingly seemed to adopt a “me-first” attitude. Dealing with that concept was stripped away during the trip, and what I witnessed was the foundational aspects of what I believe makes us special as human beings – genuine caring. When all you’re focused on is getting through the next challenge The Canyon presents, when you know that people of all manners of ability and skill are with you on the journey, the focus turns to making sure everyone survives. Politics, race, gender, socioeconomic status all take a back-seat to survival, even when your party includes people who are complete strangers.
I returned home with a healthy dose of sadness, as the headlines and issues of the day started to creep their way back into our collective conscience. It was if the time away allowed each of us the opportunity to be reminded of what is truly important, only then to be starkly reminded that society as a whole is being tricked into thinking there are more important considerations than kindness and caring for one another.
I’m in no hurry to return to the feeling of having been thrust into a convection oven for back-to-back-to-back days, but I’m sincerely wishful that some of the humanity and compassion I witnessed during this once-in-a-lifetime achievement could be packaged up and brought home to share with those most in need. It has never seemed more needed and having time away from those near-constant distractions made the poignancy of what’s going on societally even more palpable.
If you’re feeling those same thoughts of fear, uncertainty, and doubt we’ve all been experiencing as the pandemic winds its way through the populace, I can recommend no better practice than simply getting away from it all for a while, if for no other reason to remind yourself just how much of what we’re dealing with isn’t nearly as important as it otherwise seems.
Roger has spent 20+ years making complex concepts more understandable for both buyers and sellers alike, and has devoted the majority of his recent career to injecting purpose via philanthropy to his sales and marketing efforts. He’s intent on making the world a better place and his nirvana exists at the intersection of Mission, Passion, Profession and Vocation. He loves the outdoors and seeks memorable experiences whenever possible. Contact Roger at roger@socialgoodpromotions.com or 810-986-5369.