Mariel Tang: Sailing With NOLS

When people ask me why I love the outdoors, I often say I love the beauty, the slow pace of life, and most importantly, the person I become within it. Yet, I have spent little time reflecting on what lessons I learn while in the backcountry that make me feel like the best version of myself. While on a three week sailing trip in Mexico, I finally identified the two lessons that the outdoors has taught me better than anywhere else.

First, intentionality in each decision. Whether it be how many layers you put on, how many snacks you carry, or the route you take, I can see the direct effect of each decision I make in the backcountry. By thinking through the reasons behind each decision, I take ownership of the result of those decisions. In the end, I either feel confident in my earlier reasoning or learn where my reasoning failed. And with that, I feel at peace with wherever I end up. In the front country, decisions do not always have such an obvious effect. However, these skills I have gained in the backcountry allow me to look toward the future, understand the possible hazards ahead of me, and feel confident in my place.

Second, the value of offering help. While sailing, I spent almost every waking second with the same group of people, rarely seeing another soul. We learn to work together, struggle together, laugh together, and reflect together. In other words, we formed a tightly bound community wherein we relied on one another. Offering help whenever possible reaffirms my and the other person’s place in that community. It is a presentation of care and honest communication. We wonder why we do not check in like this in our day to day lives. In ‘civilization,’ we often forget the value of offering help. While it might not mean much work for me, offering help can mean the world to someone else. It demonstrates to others that you are there for them.

My takeaways certainly are not unique to the outdoors experience. You can learn these lessons anywhere. But, the hardships and kinship I have experienced in the outdoors has brought these lessons down to their rawest form, so that I can grow from them in the most positive way. - Mariel Tang