Camping, learning the hard(ish) way, and the hero’s journey(ish)

Lessons from les Alpes-Maritimes

The phrase “Some lessons are learned the hard way” kept bubbling up last weekend. It’s not my favorite, because I am unlearning the belief that we must suffer to succeed—but isn’t it true that challenges can often bring clarity, resilience, and transformation?

*Sighs emphatically*

Case in point: My partner is comfortable with the discomfort that an adventure in the wilderness can provide. I grew up traveling a lot thanks to adventurous parents, but my personal adventures never included sleeping in a tent in a Land Far, Far Away.

The concept of an adventure is different for everyone and encompasses everything from rock climbing to raising children—my own version included moving to Paris.

So as a lover of both nature and movement, I figured I’d take to hiking + camping relatively easily. What a joy to sleep and walk amongst the trees (so she thought)!

In reality, every time I’ve agreed to one of these adventures, I’ve found myself waaay outside my comfort zone—yet I still keep saying yes…?!

My discomfort may have been amplified by borrowed camping gear that doesn’t quite suit my body’s needs, but I digress because:

• It can get freezing at night—even in the summer.
• It’s not super comfortable—unless you already sleep like a mummy in ~10°C.
• It’s unstable—paths range from a pleasant stroll to a clunky balancing act.
• It encompasses every type of weather—and you can’t control any of it. *Le Sigh*
• It’s exhausting—hiking up and down steep, uneven paths with ~10+ kilos of weight is no joke, although it does leave you feeling strong after the fact…
• It’s unpredictable—in almost every way. Some will argue this is “part of the fun.”

Which always leads me to wonder (I couldn’t help but wonder…):
How is this enjoyable for people?
Whyyy do people choose to do this?
Whyyy did I agree to this (again)?

Which often leads me down an existential thought spiral:
How on Planet Freaking Earth am I going to make it up this ascent—or down this descent—on wobbly baby giraffe legs in a sleep-deprived body?
There are people who do even more extreme stuff than this (i.e. parenting), and I’m an able-bodied person—so why does this all feel so impossible for me?

All of which often leads me to the idea of the hero’s journey—or the concept of rites of passage, ancient anecdotes of deities, and spiritual quests—where risk, courage, and challenge result in transformation.

P.S. I’m referring to all forms of a Hero—not just fairytale princes—although I do admittedly cherish a Disney classic.

In my own words and understanding, a hero’s journey goes something like this:

• Challenge arises, and someone or something needs assistance from a hero.
• Hero fights, travels through scary places, and possibly faces death.
• Hero might not make it, but is learning lots of lessons and meets helpful people.
• Hero makes it, helps something or someone in need, and is transformed.

I realize that choosing to hike and camp in the French Alps is not a literal hero’s journey—it’s a chosen long weekend trip that happens to be physically demanding. But the principle still applies.

Persevering through discomfort—especially in unfamiliar environments and conditions—can not only teach us a lot about ourselves and life in general, it can also humble us, stretch us, and offer perspective.

It reminds us of the gifts we might usually take for granted: a roof over our head, a cozy bed, a kitchen, a nourishing home cooked meal.

It may remind us of the people who don’t have these things—and although this doesn’t mean we don’t have our struggles, it does remind us of how fortunate we are.

It might remind us of what a gift it is to choose to be in nature on our own terms; to learn how to live in and with nature—and the challenges that choice can bring remind us of our strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities.

Mother Nature is powerful—she is the mirror that reflects both beauty and chaos. She can rock and shake us, yet can also soothe and bless us (i.e. dark scary forests and fairytale waterfalls). So is life.

As such—there are endless lessons to be learned from the mountains and time in deep nature, where the air is thin and cell service is a fallacy. There’s also no better place to experience both mind-bending beauty and discomfort.

Alpine-Inspired Self-Inquiry

Courtesy of the Alps and à la the hero’s journey concept—here are five self-reflection prompts that came to me on my recent hiking + camping jaunt.

If you’re navigating growth, change, and challenge—or are just curious to learn more about yourself—consider using these as summer journal prompts or contemplations.

For what it’s worth 🙂

1. Who you are.
   What does being human mean to you? What do you like or dislike about yourself—your personality, preferences, reactions? What feels natural and what feels difficult? What do you feel your purpose is?
2. What you’re capable of.
   When have you surprised yourself—physically, intellectually, emotionally? When did you feel like you couldn’t go on, but did anyway? What helped you through? What was your mindset from start to finish? (I bet you’re capable of more than you think, even if you cry a lil’ bit along the way—like me on every hiking + camping trip…)
3. What you know and what you’ve learned.
   What have you always intuitively known about yourself or life in general? What have you learned—whether from a painful or a joyful experience? Who or what supported your growth?
4. How you’ve transformed.
   Where were you 2, 5, or 10 years ago? In what ways have you grown—what has softened, strengthened, or shifted? What sparked the transition—was it a conscious choice or not? Who or what supported you?
5. What you value.
   What’s important to you—and why? How might your beliefs, habits, or mindset need to shift in order to align with your values? What are you willing to release, face, or stretch a bit further for?

Happily-ish Ever After

So I guess it’s true that some—but not ALL—lessons might be learned in a hard-ish way (mindful micro-habits offer a bit of equanimity).

As the Buddhist saying and other spiritual teachings remind us:
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

That’s another lesson for another time—and one I am continually learning…

Bottom line / moral of the story:

After what seems like never-ending ascents and descents—when you thought you would have no choice but to give up—there’s no better feeling than looking at where you came from, recognizing how far you’ve traveled, and thinking to yourself:

“Wow. I made it.”

*Final Sigh*

What have your own hero’s journeys taught you?
What does nature teach you—whether via a soft whisper or a loud scream?

Take good care,

S

Final P.S.
If you’re a hiker or are simply feeling a little sore, I have a few free yoga videos for all levels that might help relieve post-activity muscle tension: shoulders / back / hips.

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