Nature Shock

What’s the reverse of culture shock… nature shock maybe? Is there such a thing? I’m once again surrounded by all things green, blue and natural—I’ve returned to the Mexican pacific coastline that I love to re-open my jungle lodge for the season. However, for the first couple of days, I was overcome by a feeling of empty restlessness. This was a new sensation that I couldn’t quite identify. Why was I reacting this way?

Then it hit me. I’d traded in watching the evening news for watching the sunset. The experience I was having was similar to culture shock, but was actually “un-culture shock”, more like “nature shock”. I was adjusting to being away from society and back in the wilderness. No advertisements, no radio, no technology, no newspapers, no people everywhere chatting on cell phones, no constant internet connection and e-mail, no big stores and bright lights. Suddenly the constant stimuli that I was accustomed to had been replaced by gently swaying palm trees and happy twittering wildlife. It was as though a constant buzz in the back of my mind had suddenly been turned off and all was uncomfortably silent. Being removed from society felt oddly strange and my mind didn’t know how to react.

As I return to the Mexican pacific I’m struck by the irony of how unnatural it initially feels to return to nature! After only three months of being away from the jungle my psyche had drifted radically. I’d unknowingly become dependent on ubiquitous and continuous stimuli from the media and technology in its many forms, as though it was some kind of strange drug. I’ve always made a concerted effort to avoid being sucked in to the societal buzz. Apparently I’ve been thoroughly affected.

Now that I think about it, upon returning to the jungle it’s as though my mind has been freed! I’m suddenly able to fully soak in my surrounding. My thoughts wander unleashed to realms that were previously overpowered by the constant input of modern society. Of course there are many wonderful things about society that I love and will miss, but I certainly never want to be dependent on any of them to be happy.

I’m slowly starting to settle back in to the familiar rhythms of the jungle and it once again feels natural and absolutely healthy to be back in the wilderness where the laws of nature prevail. Plant, animal and human alike, “be here now” seems to be the prevailing attitude in the jungle. I agree, it’s definitely good to be here now.

TAMARA JACOBI is the co-owner, hostess, website-designer, bookings manager, and expedition guide for Tailwind Outdoor, a family-owned eco-lodge and adventure tour company in San Pancho, Mexico. She is a lifelong athlete whose accomplishments include completion of 2 marathons, sea kayaking 850 miles down the Baja's Sea of Cortez, mountain biking 2000 miles of the USA's continental divide trail, mountaineering up Pico de Orizaba's 18,700 feet, and more. She is also a passionate trail runner and practicing yogini... {more »}