Growing up, I spent a lot of time outside. Sure, there were video games and the usual indoor distractions, but a large portion of my childhood was spent exploring the great outdoors—building forts, exploring the land behind our house, biking to my friend’s place several kilometers away, and more. Life, as many adults find out, was much simpler back then.

When I first laid eyes on the mountains and forests of Alberta and BC during our first out-of-province vacation (when I was 17), I immediately thought, “This is where I’m meant to be.” I spent rolls of film (yes, before the digital age) taking blurry pictures of mountains and rivers. Then, in 2008, the opportunity came up to leave the prairie lands of Manitoba and follow my parents to Prince George, BC, where the beauty of nature would surround us.

A few years later, we went on a Caribbean cruise, and I saw for the first time the wild blue yonder. The endless blue water of the Caribbean gripped me like nothing before, and something primal awoke within me. The ocean would forever call to me from that point forward.

The ocean is definitely my happy place. While I love all aspects of nature, especially forests and mountains, there is something uniquely calming about the ocean, or more specifically, water (lakes and rivers are also immensely calming to me). It has a soothing effect on my mind and soul. It calls to me. My wife and I joke that I am an elf deep down because, in Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” when an elf lays eyes on the ocean, they are forever drawn back to it.

The thing is, over time, amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, I lost touch with that part of myself. The noise, the endless tasks, and the constant pressure took over. I was caught up in the rush, forgetting the simple joys that once grounded me. Caught in an endless cycle of stress and anxiety at work, which had a detrimental effect on my mental health (a future post dedicated to mental health is coming). I was stuck and drowning.

I had to make the decision to get out of the job that was sucking my soul away, but the job market in Kelowna was non-existent, at least in the System Administration field which I had been in for almost 25 years now. An opportunity came up to apply for a job on Vancouver Island, working for a company that was intrinsically connected to the ocean, marine life, and nature—everything I longed for. After discussing it with my wife, I went for it. In the end, and to my surprise, I got the job! The atmosphere, the management, the job itself—all exactly what I needed. Within days, I could feel stress and relief lifting off of me.

I am able to get out, see the Island, and explore. Since being here, more than ever, I’ve felt a strong pull to reconnect with nature and, in turn, rediscover a lost part of my soul.

Spending time by the ocean, hiking through forests, and climbing mountains has brought back a sense of inner peace I didn’t even fully realize I was missing. Standing by the shore, feeling the ocean breeze, and listening to the waves crash, I find profound tranquility. The forests and mountains, too, offer their own kind of solace. The rustling leaves, the scent of pine, and the majestic peaks provide a grounding connection to the world around me.

Hiking through dense forest trails and breathing in the fresh mountain air, I am finding parts of myself I thought were lost forever. Each step taken in nature has been a step towards healing, a step towards clarity. Nature has a way of making us feel small yet significant, reminding us of our place in this vast world. It teaches us patience, resilience, and the importance of being present.

Nature has a way of healing us, of reminding us of the essential parts of ourselves that we sometimes forget. In the ocean’s embrace, the forest’s shelter, and the mountains’ grandeur, I find a peace that has become a vital part of my life. Each moment spent outdoors is a moment of rediscovery, of reconnecting with a part of myself that was always there but had been overshadowed by the demands of everyday life.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Through patience and presence, I have rediscovered the peace that nature so generously offers. This journey of reconnection has taught me that inner peace is not something we need to find; it is something we need to remember.

Thanks for reading everyone. Remember, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Embrace the adventure, cherish the moments, and I’ll catch you next time!
~Rob