Pursuit: it’s a book but let’s discuss

[courtgreene]

I ran this by a few moderators, and I am going to be careful to make this about discussion and not advertising, but there will have to be some back story.
I wrote a book called “Pursuit,” yes it is for sale, but that’s not what this post concerns. The book is about my journey through grief after my brother’s suicide. When writing on it, and reflecting, I realized what tremendous roles hunting and nature played in that recovery. The primary roles are reframing and distraction in my journey.
1) reframing: being able to see what I was going through via the eyes of a bear dog, or seeing my challenges as one may see the challenge of trailing an arrow-shot deer made these things make sense to me. There are all sorts of ways that hunting can serve as a means of seeing life differently.
2) distraction: a large part of my emotional recovery stemmed from learning to find joy in the woods again by teaching others. I had to learn to get my happiness from them (sounds parasitic, but isn’t).

In what ways has hunting been therapeutic for you?

Again, I want this to be a discussion and not an advertisement, I’ll post a picture of the cover, and if you want it you can find it, but I won’t post a link, because I want this thread to work and not become an ad.

thoughts?

 

[Howland937]

I've never used hunting for therapy in the way you've related it. I rarely have time to hunt these days, so when I get time to be out there it's more about relaxation and clearing my mind to whatever extent possible. Part of that is the peacefulness of the woods, but a large part is distraction. Awareness and focus can be a matter of life and death death depending on the area and the intended quarry. Kind of distraction by subtraction, by stripping life down to it's most primitive level. For me, it's been more about stress management than overcoming grief.

 

[troy fairweather]

I know what you mean, I know all to well how losing someone to suicide can affect you. sound like It would be a good read.

 

[DeepSouth]

I’m a Christian, and I hold to a literal interpretation of Genesis, specifically creation for this context. As a result time spent in nature revels things about God and His attributes, and that can be very therapeutic.

I’d go into more detail but it would likely read more like a sermon, so I’ll spare you.
Suffice it say when hunting I see Gods peace, omnipotence, justice, sovereignty and many other things that bring great peace to troubled times. This isn’t necessarily from strictly hunting but just being in nature, which for me only happens when I’m hunting.

 

[jmr40]

I'm sorry for the loss of your brother.

Yes, I find hunting or any outdoor activity therapeutic. Any time something was weighing heavy on my heart and mind I've spent time walking through the outdoors reflecting on my thoughts. I find being out in nature clears my head and helps me make better decisions. If there is something legal to hunt then a rifle or shotgun goes with me, but I' usually not really concentrating on the hunt. If not during hunting season I'll take a long hike alone.

Suicide is a MUCH bigger problem than most people realize. I volunteer with a group that gets called to search for missing persons. About 1/2 of the searches I've been on have been to recover suicide victims who don't want to be found. I've seen the effects it has on family, especially when we never find remains and closure is impossible for the family.

 

[courtgreene]

I never thought of it from a “missing persons” perspective. That’s very interesting.

 

[courtgreene]

I’d go into more detail but it would likely read more like a sermon, so I’ll spare you.

That’s my day job.

The created reveals an awful lot about the creator, be that God from a Judeo-Christian standpoint or some other view. Closeness to it tends to offer us new and deeper perspectives on whatever it is we may be pondering.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

My condolences to you on the loss of your Brother.

I live in the country on some acreage and next to a lot more. I can observe plenty of Nature just by looking out the windows.
But when I leave the house and head out back to hunt I feel that instead of an observer I become a participant, which for me adds a different dimension to being out there.

 

[wbm]

I realized what tremendous roles hunting and nature played in that recovery. The primary roles are reframing and distraction in my journey.

Glad that you did that! You have been through a lot for sure and have learned things those of us have not need to know. Peace!

I’d go into more detail but it would likely read more like a sermon, so I’ll spare you.
Suffice it say when hunting I see Gods peace, omnipotence, justice, sovereignty and many other things that bring great peace to troubled times. This isn’t necessarily from strictly hunting but just being in nature, which for me only happens when I’m hunting.

+1.
Each time Jesus was weary in and of this world, where did he to? Chruch/Temple? Never. Wilderness every time. What a message!

 

[courtgreene]

Each time Jesus was weary in and of this world, where did he to? Chruch/Temple? Never. Wilderness every time. What a message!

true. Assuming one counts caves as wilderness. Which I would.

 

[Wolfshead]

I’m so very sorry for your loss!
This past year or more has had us going through a lot of trying times.
Especially with the pandemic and the political issues we are experiencing.
My father recently fell and is now immobile and starting to have Alzheimer’s issues as well.
To add to that my very close friend is dying from colon cancer and I’m literally watching him waste away.
Trying time for sure!
The timing of this post is very interesting to me, as I was just thinking to myself that I need to get into the woods.
When I was growing up I used to head to the “woods” to get away and get my head together so to speak.
It was where I was most comfortable and it was always the same. I could always count on it.
I knew that peace was there, and to this day I need to get to the woods to have that opportunity to find peace and, as someone said previously, “to reflect” on things that are happening.

 

[courtgreene]

I’m so very sorry for your loss!
This past year or more has had us going through a lot of trying times.
Especially with the pandemic and the political issues we are experiencing.
My father recently fell and is now immobile and starting to have Alzheimer’s issues as well.
To add to that my very close friend is dying from colon cancer and I’m literally watching him waste away.
Trying time for sure!
The timing of this post is very interesting to me, as I was just thinking to myself that I need to get into the woods.
When I was growing up I used to head to the “woods” to get away and get my head together so to speak.
It was where I was most comfortable and it was always the same. I could always count on it.
I knew that peace was there, and to this day I need to get to the woods to have that opportunity to find peace and, as someone said previously, “to reflect” on things that are happening.

I find it interesting that, as humanity developed, we fled the wilderness and the challenges that living there offered to find peace in control. Then, once we made that stressful, we flee the stress of civilization to find peace in the wilderness. It's primal but beautiful. Get out there, man.

 

[Sniper66]

Thank you for sharing your story. I, too, absorb healing from my outdoor meandering. The noise of daily life peels away as I behold the beauty and power of nature. The CCP virus disappears from my consciousness as a deer walks a few yards in front of me. Concern about the latest political lies evaporates when a meadowlark sings his melodious song. My ability to smile returns when an unaware possum strolls next to me and models the indifference he feels about my worries. Healing indeed....every time.