Celestica by tpoulton001

in the end, everyone can understand themselves only. You are the only one to which you never have to explain what you mean. Everything else is misunderstanding. Laguna Torre - Patagonia With so much commanding our attention these days, it’s easy to feel like were drowning in a tidal wave of messages that arrive daily through our phones, computers and personal devices. At some point, it seems the only way to catch a break is to simply walk out into the wilderness, and away from the constant technological distractions. I have just completed my second OOAK Photography Adventure for 2015, we went on a backcountry trip in Patagonia both in Chile and Argentina and enjoyed many nights camping in the wilderness. This trip was particularly wonderful because it was my first to this part of the world and a break from the endless notifications that inundate my daily life. I was reminded of the importance of temporarily disconnecting from the “real” world. Of course, it doesn’t take a photography trip to do this. A walk in the park, run by the river or snowshoe in the mountains will provide ample opportunity to go social media free for a few hours. In order to truly disconnect I believe we need to either spend some time alone or surround ourselves with people who can also turn the power off. Unfortunately we have become so dependent on this form of communication we found it hard to disconnect.. Just a few hours or days spent away from our devices gives us the perspective and discernment we need when we choose to connect again. By fully engaging in our time spent in nature - breathing in the fresh air, watching the sun set and rise or the way the snow blows off the mountains - we’ll stay in the present moment and away from the perpetual ”To Do List.” In fact, when we let go of all the things that command our attention, we are better able to prioritize and discern what is important. The time we take to refresh our spirits will make us much more creative when it’s time to enter the game again. What I really missed the most was my beautiful wife and children, I feel recharged by my time in the wilderness and believe I can better handle what happens in the “real" world. via 500px http://500px.com/photo/104535909