What is Real Happiness?

League of Wildness,

I heard this story from a friend today:

"A while back I moved out to a beautiful property in an outdoor mecca. It had everything I wanted - awesome biking trails, climbing, water sports, hiking - basically everything I love to do. The property itself was much bigger than where I live now and I thought it checked all the boxes. I even had a handful of friends in the area. But for the days leading up to closing, something felt off - I felt empty. And the more time that went by, the worse I felt until finally I knew moving to this area was the wrong decision.

It became clear to me that what it was missing was community and that for me to be my happiest and really thrive, I need a community"

This hits deep.

When I was in college I read the book, Into the Wild - 3 times.

It's the story of a young man who essentially leaves society and goes on an incredible journey all across America.

I was so obsessed with the adventure that I failed to recognize the loniliness he experienced.

During the same time period I read another book called The Last Season about a Backcountry Wilderness Ranger who disappeared in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

This was a big inspirational for me to eventually become a Wilderness Ranger in the same area.

I don't necessarily regret this decision, but I do question if it was what was best for me at the time.

I was just a few years out of college and had been on a team and a part of a real community for the past 9 years.

Then suddenly, I was spending weeks alone in the wilderness.

There were definitely nights in my tent where I was counting down the seconds until I could leave the wild, only to go right back, but this time with friends.

*Spoiler alert*

As the young man from Into the Wild lay alone, dying of starvation, he inscribed:

Happiness is only real when shared.

I think this might be one of the truest statements I've ever heard.

And I think there is also a distinction between friends and community.

On my college Lacrosse team there were around 45 guys, but I'd only consider 5-6 of them as friends.

Regardless of the friendship status, I'd readily put my physical safety on the line for anyone on the team - my community.

I was a part of something (that I had worked extremely hard to be a part of) and I never questioned my purpose.

A long time ago I heard the following:

What does a Dragon Slayer do once all the Dragons have been slain?

I think I do best when their are dragons and I think this is why having a community is extremely important.

After college I was still an "athlete" and I still needed purpose, I just didn't quite recognize it.

This becomes even more vital in regards to your health and fitness.

If you simply surrounded yourself with healthy, fit people it's highly likely that your health and fitness would also improve.

It's not about being the "healthiest" or the "fittest".

Rather - it's about being around people that share these values and live them out in their lives.

There's no replacement for real-world human interaction, but the internet does offer a highly efficient way to connect to those people, and maybe even build a community.

I also encourage you to join wild gym's private community (almost 4,000 strong! ) if you're looking to bring some wildness and accountability to your feed.

Remember - it's only real when shared.

Don't know where to start?

Forward this email this email to a friend you want to Ruck with and start building from there.

Much love!

-Dan, wild gym founder

What is Real Happiness?

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