Experiment

Last time I let my mind wander in The Pen, busy, busy ... took center stage. And while I could share that column again without much difficulty, I naturally feel the urge to talk about something else. After all, being busy is nothing more than a story we tell ourselves. I recall an experiment I started this summer, the fruits of which I am still reaping today.  

Let me take you back to that past summer, a season that started early, transitioned into autumnal scenes (which was good for the plants) and finally ended in a wonderful Indian summer. The changeable nature of our weather never ceases to amaze, so one random summer day I decided to start experiencing it more consciously. 

Specifically, this meant deleting all weather apps from my phone. When I woke up, I no longer looked at forecasts, but at the sky. I liked that beyond expectations. I let myself be surprised and the weather took me on its own adventure. A rainy, gloomy morning that turned into a radiant afternoon sun. I shared those moments abundantly with my family, relatives and friends. 

Moreover, this experiment brought me closer to the core of what our work is about: enriching the outdoors. It brought with it spontaneous actions, trekking on a rainy day and then the sky clearing unexpectedly. I'm almost starting to sound like a Beaver commercial... 

Anyway, I realized that this experiment forced me to look at the world through the eyes of the end consumer. What does the outdoors really mean to them? What choices do they make to embrace that feeling? That, in turn, led to conversations with my colleagues to talk about this. 

And then I still come back to busy, busy, busy. Maybe you recognize this feeling: sometimes you get so caught up in your work that it's hard to zoom out and see the bigger picture, what you're doing it all for. Being busy then takes over. Through such small experiments, by consciously living in the moment, I continue to look at our profession and the world with fresh eyes and enjoy both more consciously! 

I look outside and see that it is raining. Time for a drink by the fireplace. What an experiment can set in motion... Happy winter months to you!