When Things Get Tough Get Outdoors

Montana Grant  |   Thursday Nov. 1st, 2018

Most sad, mean, hateful, and miserable people have few hobbies or outdoor interests! They stew in their own lonely and sorrowful swill while searching for ways to lower the bar to their level. Instead of using their energy and resources to do good, they find ways to hate themselves, others, and life. 

It takes a lot of energy, and focus, to be miserable, hateful, and unhappy. We choose how and where we live. Our life is measured by the choices we make. Choosing to be happy is a good start. Now, get hooked on an outdoor sport and hunt new experiences. Channel your energy for positive outcomes. The outdoors is simply a door away from your home. Open the door and embrace a new and different outdoor adventure. Use your energy wisely without waste. 

Outdoor recreation is a wonderful way to celebrate life. Fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking, camping, boating, and so many other choices have one thing in common: They take place in beautiful outdoor places. Once you find your special outdoor adventure, it will take a lifetime to master the skills required. These sports are also social and seasonal. You can enjoy more than one choice.

All outdoor sports mean that you need to interact with others, stay in shape, and simply be out in nature. Each season requires a different wardrobe, gear, destination, and training. We are never too old to learn a new skill and hobby. The great thing about celebrating the outdoors is that there is always something new to do. 

It is time to go fishing, hunting, or outdoors when things get tough! There are many positive ways to address depression and unhappiness. Screaming and yelling will scare the fish, so fishing is a good excuse to calm down.

Fishing is a gender and age friendly activity. Some folks find salvation in sports, hunting, hobbies, or some other meaningful distraction. When you are enjoying the outdoors, you escape the hardships of life. 

Fishing is a wonderful metaphor for life. One cast at a time is how we fish. Outdoor fun recharges and invigorates us, so we can fill our limits of happiness. When life gets tough, we recover by making one good choice at a time. Just one more cast, or good choice, can turn things around.

Fishing is not just fishing! Tying knots, dealing with gear, choosing baits, flies, or lures, casting, and searching for fish. Following the limits, rules, and guidelines of fishing challenges you to stay honest. There is not just one thing that allows you to catch a fish. It takes many choices and decisions to hook up. Gearing up the boat, crafting lures and flies, teaching others, and being a student of the sport are just a few tasks you may need to tackle. Fish are just the excuse to go fishing. Most fishermen just enjoy fishing. Catching a fish is simply a bonus.


Catching a fish always makes us smile! Fishing solves the problems of life! Fishing Buddies can give great advice and counsel when calm and relaxed. Children, when fishing, especially are more attentive and hungrier for wisdom. Great advice and memories last forever when presented in a fisherman-friendly manner. You may hate losing a fish, but this is when you learn the most.

Hunting means beautiful sunrises and embracing our hunter/gatherer roots. Sharing the experience with friends and family makes the hunt even better. Wild critters live in beautiful wild places. To be an effective hunter, you must also be in decent physical shape. Once your body feels better, so does your mind. The excitement of hunting is intense, personal, and memorable. 

Hunting requires training and practice. Learning to shoot a bow, rifle, or shotgun begins with safety training. Different hunts happen in different places. Rules, laws, and regulations teach us respect and honesty. Legal harvests feed our families and our souls. Shooting is empowering. Other outdoor sports also require learning and enjoying new and different things.

Fishing, hunting, camping, and outdoor recreation are done in beautiful places: trout streams, ocean shores, ponds, lakes, forests, mountains, deserts, prairies, parks and rivers. These areas help to calm, relax, and nourish our spirits and souls. The sights, sounds, smells, and feel of outdoor destinations are the perfect prescription for people to focus and recharge.

Every day we wake up and have an opportunity to be happy. Start with one choice at a time. Today, I am going boating. The sounds of the water are welcoming. You will not be alone among the flocks of birds, schools of fish, and others enjoying the experience nearby. Ask for advice, smile, and greet folks you meet, focus on the critters, wind, scenery, and joy of nature. Suddenly, you feel better. Once your guard is down, you will simply be happy. Maybe life will make you miserable again, but for a while, things were better. With experience, practice, repetition, and time, happy outdoor moments will grow longer.

Hate disappears when you catch a fish or smile at a sunrise. Suddenly, your attention and energy are focused on a bent rod, screaming reel, and excitement of the moment. The last thing you want to do is to lose these opportunities. Companions can help with encouragement and getting you hooked on the sport. Outdoor friends create personal memories that last forever. It is amazing how simple it can be to relax and smile. 

“Fishers of Men” is quoted in the Bible. Fish have supplied sustenance for all living things. We all can be successful fishermen at whatever level of skill we are at. As we fish, hunt, or head outdoors, our skills grow, and our anger dissipates. Outdoor recreation is an addictive drug that is cheap, easy, and legal. This lifelong outdoor addiction is never satisfied. Every fish caught is as exciting as the first. No one ever catches enough fish. Just one more cast can change your luck and give you hope! 

Focus your energy on healthy outdoor choices that bring you joy. Whether in a group or alone, nature has a way of healing and learning to love again.

I think I got a bite!  

About the Author(s)

Montana Grant

Montana Grant is a retired Educator, Consultant, Naturalist, Guide, and freelance writer, he spends much of his time sharing and teaching about the great outdoors. For more Montana Grant, visit his blog at www.montanagrantfishing.com.

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