This chick has been rewilded! 30 days of spending at least 30 minutes in the wild doing all sorts of interesting activities is now finished. What a truly memorable month September was and I would recommend anyone to have a go. The challenge starts again tomorrow for the month of October and let me tell you it will change the way you think. I work outdoors much of the year on my horticultural smallholding but I had quite forgotten how to use to outdoors for leisure. As a result of the challenge I am now walking a good distance every day and I also engage in the outdoors in a far more restful way. I have come to love being outdoors and hate being indoors. A proper, fully qualified wild chick. From the absolute bottom of my heart I want to thank the entire rewilding team but a special thanks to Alissa who came up with the idea in the first place. I am hoping to do some writing for the team in the coming months and I will remain part of the facebook group for a while to see where that takes me. 
I have sat under a tree, hugged a tree, taken long walks, made natural sculptures, watched wildlife, completed a scavenger hunt, climbed hills, put my feet in lots of different water, photographed, stood in a storm and a lot more besides. It is almost like being a child again as I rediscovered the resource that is the great outdoors. George and Max have done most of the challenges with me and loved them too. They have had to rescue me a few times and I did find one of the walks a real challenge but they were a comforting back up when needed.
Thirty days in a row is long enough to make it habitual and that is the genius part of the project. Once it is built into each and every day it is not something you can easily let go of. The journey has been further enriched by an online community from all over the world and the sharing of pictures and stories has been so a real education. As a result I have a new friend, Lisa, who lives in Canada and Alaska has become a 'must visit' location. I have a feeling that many of the September group will continue on with their sharing of experiences and that is testament to the quality of the project. A number of my friends have now joined up for October as have a number of readers of this blog so word is spreading.
It is easy for me to identify my favourite challenge as that was the night we wrapped ourselves in blankets and went outside at night to gaze at the stars. They tell you to allow for 20 minutes so that your eyes will adjust and it was so worth the wait. It was a stunning experience and one that will remain with me forever. I think many of the challenges encourage you to change perspective and to then begin to fully appreciate your place in the world and beyond. I found many challenges very humbling and so it is much more than just simply reconnecting with nature. Perhaps we all need to spend some time considering our place in the world to appreciate who we really are? It has helped me realise what was missing from my life but always what is still to do and, in that, it is completely energising.
This 30 day rewilding challenge is a joy to do by yourself and helps you to appreciate time alone. But it is also a joy to do with others, especially family members. For me the next logical step would be to produce another rewilding challenge but this one would be specifically for families. Of course, families can do the existing scheme but I do think there I scope for a family centred one to encourage families to spend more time together in the great outdoors. As is my way I did adapt a few of the challenges to make it more engaging for the three of us to do at the same time and we did have a whole heap of fun. Perhaps another extension of the project would be to devise four separate ones; one for each season. I am a massive fan of the seasons and love all four of them. I am aware that many of my friends hate the winter and wonder if a 30 day challenge in January might help them see the season differently? It I just a thought.
The learning that takes place is not to be underestimated. We are fortunate with home school because our children have spent a lot of time learning about the wild and we always learn as a family where at all possible. That is, perhaps, not always the case for other families. We have learnt all sorts of interesting things as your time outside invariably draws questions and when back insides you are on the hunt for the answers. It is in the 'seeing' that the biggest change occurs. Over the course of the 30 days it feels like you are opening your eyes further and taking in more of the landscape. I notice far more now and not just by using my eyes. I recognise particular bird calls and can even smell out places that I know will offer up mushrooms. As a result of the full 30 days you just feel more alert and that can only be a good thing.
Of course, the fact that it is only 30 minutes a day is what makes the challenge so achievable and appealing. If we can't find 30 minutes in our day perhaps we are over-filling our day?
So, I end the 30 days considerably fitter than when I began and full of new knowledge and appreciation. I have reconnected with the wild in a deep and life lasting way and I feel more at peace. It has changed the way I think and the way I spend my time and it has even shifted the way I see my future. Not bad for a 30 day challenge. I do hope that I have convinced more of you to give it a go. Those that are already signed up do let me know how you get on. How incredibly exciting for you. If you want to sign up it is completely free but the additional ebook that costs just $6.00 is the best of reads and, I think, makes the experience more focused. Here is the link to sign up.
Until tomorrow. xx
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