0002: CARRY FURTHER BY INVENTING HOPE
Carry Further By Inventing Hope
299 words, < 2 minutes
James Baldwin said, “hope is invented every day.” How about that? Every day we get to invent an imagined future for ourselves, others, and the world. With hope, we have motivation to carry further.
There is a mnemonic device in survival training called the “rule of three.” It’s not exact, but it is a helpful framing for prioritizing energy and actions. Humans can live without food for roughly 3 weeks, water for 3 days, protection from the environment for 3 hours, air for 3 minutes, and PMA (positive mental attitude) for 3 seconds.
A rookie mistake in a survival situation is prioritizing food over protection from the environment. To illustrate this point, I used to tell a story about choosing between being naked chasing squirrels in the snow, or finding shelter.* In case you missed it, clearly, the correct choice is seeking shelter.
The idea of PMA usually elicited an eye roll or on a good day a chuckle, from anyone hearing it for the first time. Yet, belief in the ability to overcome is the most important thing for survival. Our contradiction is that we are both remarkably resilient and fragile at the same time.
To paraphrase the Stockdale Paradox, you must confront the facts of the situation while also never losing hope that you will prevail. Through the scary darkness of the unknown, hope shines through. Hope is our secret strength and how we carry a little further every day. Granted most of us won’t be a POW or lost in the wilderness, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of inventing new hope every day.
Whether you are looking out of a tent in the rain or starring out of the same windows at home, keep dreaming and inventing. Thanks for the hope you’ve inspired in me.
*Not based on a true story.
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ADVENTURE ALMANAC EPISODES 1, 2, & 3
We did it. We published our first podcast episodes last week! I have a newfound respect for all the scripted podcasts out there. Look out for Episode 4 on December 11 (next Thursday). In case you haven’t listened to all three episodes yet, here’s a brief rundown.
Episode 1 was about Bertha Benz and the first road trip. In 12 minutes, we tell the story of the invention of the automobile and how Bertha embraced risk and eventually snuck the prototype out of the garage to do the unthinkable. Episode 2 was the 16-minute story of the Mather Mountain Party, the founding of the National Parks Service, and how chef Tie Sing made the adventure a success by building community through food. No mules were seriously injured, but one did disappear. Finally, Episode 3 was about climbing Mt. Everest and much more. Yeti? It was our longest episode at 19 minutes, but covers three different expeditions, including the first successful summit.
If you haven’t, please give them a listen and give us a 5-star rating. It helps more than you know. Feedback and suggestions are welcome anytime.
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LINKS
HE’S GOING THE DISTANCE
He’s going for speed. Cake must have been referring to a race with a finish line. Alex Hutchinson, one of our favorite writers about the nerdy science of exercise and performance in outdoor sports, had some advice about how to think about pacing for the pandemic or undefined running distances. Let it go, let it go…
Read More (Globe and Mail) 10 min
PAINTING UNDERWATER
How did you take a photograph underwater in the 1860s? You didn’t. You sat in a diving bell and you painted. Well, if you think that seems unlikely to work well, au contraire. Check out Eugene’s paintings for an inspiring recreation of the underwater world.
Read More (PublicDomainReview) 2 min
FOR THE TREES HAVE TONGUES?
The Lorax had to speak for the trees. However, research suggests that trees can communicate more than we think. “Plants are just very slow animals.” This article probably has more information about plant senses and intelligence than you wanted to know, but maybe it provides you with a new perspective on your next walk in the woods.
Read More (BBC) 10 min
Random Additional Information: Researchers believe that sharks are older than trees.
AMAZON ART PRINTS
Prehistoric paintings were rediscovered in the Columbian rainforest. Researchers hiked for four hours past caimans and bushmasters to reach the rock face that contained paintings of giant sloths, mammoths, wooden towers, and something that looks like a person bungee jumping. BBC4 produced a documentary called Jungle Mystery with more details.
Read More (The Guardian) 2 min
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