I am writing this first blog, looking out from The Wilderness Medic HQ over the rooftops on a grey Monday morning in early 2019.
I have just returned from spending some time in Rye, on the south coast, and had the chance to visit the nearby beach at Camber Sands, which looked fantastic in the winter setting sun. It is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.
Finley, our springer spaniel, had a great time chasing seagulls and running in and out of the sea. We even found a local pub, with a roaring fire to dry him off, and £2 pints of Old Golden Hen at the bar!
But I digress. The main reason I went was for a screening of Alex Honnold's new documentary film: "Free Solo."
For those of you who are not familiar, Alex is a professional adventure rock climber whose audacious free-solo ascents of America’s biggest cliffs have made him one of the most recognised and followed climbers in the world.
The film details his attempt to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in the USA, without using any ropes 😳
It is a great film and Alex is a down to earth, humble and very inspirational guy, if not a little crazy for what he is attempting! Click the image below to watch a trailer for his documentary- it seems to be at very few venues in the UK, but if you can find a screening, it is well worth it.
Whilst soloing El Capitan may be taking it to the extreme, it was refreshing to see someone chasing their dreams and living for the moment.
It is all too easy to become goal-focused, both within medical training and in life, as society and the media appear to dictate the steps you should take as you enter your twenties and subsequently your thirties. In medicine, the foundation program can merge into specialist training and, if you are not careful, you risk spending more time working in the hospital or clinic than doing the activities that bring you fulfilment.
This blog, and indeed our website, are not about telling you what you should and should not do. There are no right and wrong answers.
Instead we aim to share interesting stories and useful resources, acting as a community for those interested in finding out more about expedition and wilderness medicine and other outdoor activities.
We love the outdoors, dogs, travel and adventure, so we apologise if you don't like these things- they will be recurring themes. We also believe strongly in encouraging resilience, improving mental health, and the importance of going back to our roots by spending more time talking to one another, helping communities and appreciating what nature has to offer us.
Future blogs will include clinical scenarios and discussions, relevant guidelines, stories from our own experiences, guest articles from friends who have done cool things....the list could go on for a while. Ultimately it will be for:
People who are inquisitive.
People looking for adventure.
People who love to travel.
People who love the outdoors.
People who want to learn about expedition and wilderness medicine.
People who want to escape the confines of "traditional medicine."
People like YOU.
Please subscribe, follow us on social media and join us on our journey.
Tell us your stories and what inspires you. Share the adventure.
Have a look around the website at our resources section and get in touch if you want to get involved with writing for us.
I will leave you with a quote from someone far more intelligent than me.
"Look up at the stars and not down at your feet"
Stephen Hawkins
BW
Daniel
Comments