The Hills Have Style

There’s nothing more pleasing than spending your free time exploring and stumbling across scenic locations you had no idea were so close to you. This is the exact experience I had when a friend of mine suggested to spend time at a nearby country park I had never heard of. I think it’s undeniably universal that everyone loves nature and the outdoors. Being a city boy, it’s a part of myself I rarely engage, so, although delighted at the prospect, I’m always unprepared for what to expect. In simple terms, I’m the guy that regretfully wears expensive shoes to hike through trudges of mud.

Initially, I just wanted to embark on a hipster Instagram mission through the hills with beanie, beard and coffee in tow and no intention to post. However, a mysterious encounter (which has now been solved) channelled my mind into a thought process I feel needs to be shared. Whilst walking through the hills, both of my friend’s and mines phones randomly switched themselves off with more than enough battery life to spare. They would switch back on after a few attempts but then instantly die again as soon as we tried to record some funny Snapchats, because, you know, this trip would be pointless without social media validation. The rest of the walk was then spent with a complete disconnection from everything we are always otherwise constantly connected to and in all honesty…it genuinely felt liberating!

Now before you say…err aren’t you a blogger, with a readership dependent on people being online. Yes that’s true. I am very much appreciative of the globally linked community that is the online world as it means we can learn so much more about everything there is to know about the world. It makes us more globally aware individuals with a greater sense of the planet we live on and the people we share it with. However, as with most resources, the overuse of it is potentially harmful. For something to initially make us feel connected universally, we become disconnected locally by force of habit. Now I’m going to get psychological here. Our brains love short-term stimulation, a sense smartphones deliver regularly with apps, photos, music, social media etc. that you can easily become addicted to. I’m addicted and what’s more scary is that I acknowledged how limiting it was becoming of my cognitive skills. I was beginning to a notice a decline in my creativity, critical thinking and began procrastinating like hell, which I really am not happy with.

So back to when our phones turned off in the middle of the woods. It was a blessing. Once we reached the peak of the hills, we stood in the absence of camera noises and filters, really taking in and appreciating the view below us, which led to me think about all the things I’ve written about in this post. So I guess the message here, is to not hate technology and turn into a peace sign wearing, barefoot, vegan called Rain and live in a caravan fuelled by the combustion of your collected faeces. It’s simply to be smart about your smartphone use by being selective and time cautious in what you choose to consume and depict of yourself i.e. constantly read ‘Sam’s Outlook’.

Having said all of that though, the pictures I did get before our phones died are too good to not share. I’m dressed head to toe in Topman and I particularly love my double-breasted pea coat. It’s a must have for every winter wardrobe to instantly upgrade any casual jeans and jumper combo to smarter wear. My shoes? Well they were too muddy to photograph well. Like I said, I’m always unprepared for the outdoors.

Stay Positive,

Sam

P.S. No shade to Vegans. You’re legit. Our phones apparently died so spontaneously because of the cold temperatures affecting the resistance of the lithium batteries. Yeah. I don’t get it either.