First…not a big Myers-Briggs fan…hard to take a few billion people on the planet and put them into 16 classifications. But some would say I am an introvert.
Really?
The world often sees us as loners. Off in the wild on by ourselves. Hermits.
I admit, I need time alone to recharge, but I love showing people the ropes in this lifestyle. I also teach corp adults in my day gig…making contact with 50-200 people per day…so on the weekends…I often like to get to myself.
Growing up I did what we now call bushcraft. I was scrawny, too small (but still loved) to play football. I lived in an area far from other kids, or at least other kids that weren’t getting into serious trouble. I had a small patch of undeveloped land that was my safe haven. Away from bully’s, teachers, etc. I didn’t have access to a Boy Scout troop so I took myself through most of the outdoor skills and then worked my way through some military survival manuals.
Later in life, I look back and see this as a pattern. I break away but don’t disconnect from others. I find my recharge time is in a hammock with basic gear. Even on business travel, I pack a small kit and find a place to camp or at least practice my skills (you draw crowds in Taipei, Shenzen, and Seoul when experimenting with fire steel and local tinder).
The woods are often my retreat. Going through divorce, issues at work, when tough decision have to be made. This is where I go to just exist. Its where I reming myself that I don’t need allot of stuff to be happy. 10-12 items in a pack, a meal, and a nice fire is all that is required to be happy.
I now have an opportunity to provide a path for people just like me. People who are broken. People who fight addiction or co-dependancy. People who fight depression. People who have no idea why they exist.
Being alone doesn’t mean I am a loner nor anti-social. Quiet doesn’t mean I don’t have a voice. Being alone says that I have a place where I am confident and I can rely on myself.
DCIM100GOPRO
Adventure IQ 