I read a book this year that changed my life.

‘Braving the Wilderness’ by Brene Brown.

Amazon reviewer, Hannah Braime, sums it up perfectly:

‘If you’ve ever wondered where you fit in and who you fit in with right now, if you’ve ever felt afraid to speak up for fear of being judged or labelled, if you find yourself feeling disillusioned or frustrated with the way people communicate about important issues, and if you know there is a better alternative to all these things, this book is a must-read.’

Before I read this book, I was – and still am – feeling pretty much all of these things. About a lot of things in my life! But I’ll start with this:

• I’m 34.
• I don’t know where I fit in and I’m ok with that – most of the time.
• I don’t know a lot about politics.
• I’m crapping myself at the thought of what the future might hold.
• I’m confused when I listen to/read the news – mainly because most of it sounds like it is designed to make me crap myself about the future.
• Beyond the crap-inducing content, when I set the panic and feeling of impending doom to one side, I find myself thinking things like ‘Really?’ or ‘Now that’s just stupid!’ and sometimes even ‘Wouldn’t it be better if they did this instead?’
• Even more confusingly, when I think the above thoughts, I find myself not just lost but paralysed in the ‘wilderness’ as my ideas do not line up neatly with a dominant ideology/political party/group of people.
• I’m therefore left feeling stupid/ignorant/like a fence sitter/like I have to pick a side/point of view just to ‘fit in’ with the people I ‘should’ be fitting in with.

After reading ‘Braving the Wilderness’, and subsequently re-reading it, I have decided to do something about what I’m feeling.

I’m going to shake myself off and take a walk around the wilderness.

Plan: Wilderness Walk v1

1. Update my reading content to reflect my journey of discovery and to educate myself in as many world perspectives as I possibly can. (Even if I don’t understand them all just yet.)
2. Commit to setting time aside not just to skim or passively ingest crap-inducing media content but to read it carefully and reflect on what it is actually telling me or in some cases, not telling me.
3. Make a conscious choice to test, explore and articulate my own opinions
4. Apologise to anyone I offend – even if we don’t and never will agree. My intention is not to offend but I accept that somehow, by having an opinion, offending someone is inevitable.
5. Give myself a free pass to be wrong and not get upset about it.
6. Be open to others in the wilderness.

 

*tightens shoelaces on walking boots*

*checks backpack for snacks*

*takes a deep breath*

*pops on sunglasses*  yes, it’s sunny in my wilderness as it’s hardly ever sunny where I live

*puts one foot in front of the other*

 

And off I go…