by Maggie Viox
Nowadays we all find ourselves plugged in one way or another. Whether it’s working on our computers, watching TV after a long day or scrolling on our phones, spending our time in front of a screen is a daily occurrence. It’s easy to get caught up in our devices and forget about the beautiful world outside our door.
I find that when I spend too much time on my phone, I am overstimulated and overwhelmed by the access I have at my fingertips. On social media I can get sucked in to doom scrolling and before I know it, an hour as gone by and I barely remember anything I just looked at. Peeking through the window into the lives of other people often leads to comparison and feelings of inadequacy and suddenly I’m anxious and discontent. When this happens I have to remind myself that my phone isn’t real life and that it’s time to disconnect and find a different way to relax and unwind.
Rafting on the South Fork of the American River is one of my favorite ways to disconnect from my cellphone and let the rest of the world fall away. When I’m on the river I’m no longer focused on what other people are doing and instead I’m present in the moment.
I can forget about all my troubles and breathe in the fresh air. I look around at the beautiful river valley and memorize it best I can. The pine trees and oak trees rising up from the shore, the bald eagle standing proudly on a branch, watching over me. The baby merganser ducks trailing after their mother, the dragonflies and butterflies that hover around my head as I drift downstream. I pass by the beachgoers laying out on the sand and swimming in the cool, refreshing water and I wave hello, pleased that others are enjoying the beautiful day like I am. I spot a river otter swimming across the surface of the water, his head bobbing like an apple from afar. The sky is blue and the sun is hot and I enjoy the soft breeze as I steer my boat forward.
When I’m spending too much time on my phone, the lines between my physical and virtual reality blur together. Everything happening online can feel immensely heavy, especially when I’m constantly bombarded with ads and sponsored posts, news outlets blaring bad news on repeat and an algorithm that just won’t quit. These things can shatter my good mood in an instant and fill me with dread, and all the sudden I forget the good things around me because the negative things I see on my phone feel all consuming and imminent. In the blink of an eye I feel hopeless.
I’ve found that the cure for that hopelessness is immersing myself in nature. I’m in a constant state of awe at the beauty around me while the tranquility of the river recharges my batteries and renews my sense of hope and joy. I release the weight I’m carrying and feel gratitude for the world I get to experience. Human beings are not separate from nature, we are nature, as much as the birds and the bees. Submerging myself in the cold water, admiring the wildlife and navigating the river with my paddle and my crew connects me to something bigger than myself. It reminds me my phone is just a tool that I can put down any time I want. It reminds me I was created to go outside, not to live inside a screen.
I love seeing my customers engaged in the moment, taking a break from their busy lives in the cities and the suburbs and immersing themselves in the natural beauty of the river. It’s amazing how healing a bit of laughter and splashy whitewater can be for the mind, body and soul.
Working together with your friends, families or even strangers to charge through the whitewater could be just the medicine you need to slow down, have fun and spend your day off.
