Roast Marshmallows, Live Longer
April 8, 2009
Did you know that roasting marshmallows could actually make you live longer? Okay, fine… so you won’t live longer, but it can feel longer.Â
This past Friday Jeff came home from work, gathered us up, and took us camping at the Chattahoochee River. Now, keep in mind, in nearly ten years of marriage this was only my second time sleeping in a tent; I usually opt for the comfort of my bed, climate control, and indoor plumbing. The first time was in the Smoky Mountains when we were dating, and I was trying to convince him I was “a super cool chick that’s up for anything” so he’d want to marry me.
“Marry an outdoors woman. Then if you throw her out into the yard on a cold night, she can still survive.â€Â (W. C. Fields)
Apparently, the ploy worked like a charm. (Although it may have been my Cupid Lasagna that sealed the deal.) 
As soon as we got to the campsite, Hunter (our son) started running around all over the place. He was jumping and smiling, clearly thrilled to be outdoors. I realized in that moment how much kids need this sort of thing: to be outside, to run around freely, to spend time with just their parents. Hunter gets to play in our yard all the time but this, to him, was “the great outdoors.”Â
We got there around sunset, so I walked along the river path taking pictures, and absorbing the beauty of nature through every pore of my body, while the boys set up the tent. Then Hunter did some exploring with me, while Jeff got the fire going. We roasted marshmallows and made S’mores, then we talked about all sorts of things as the sky slipped out of its lovely golden gown and into the total darkness that surrounded our fire.
When it was completely dark, and we had consumed an indecent amount of marshmallows, it seemed like we had been out there for a whole week. We were away from our computers, work, blogging, phones, TV, PlayStation, chores, and the million little things that try to squeeze themselves into every minute of our lives. We had completely decompressed; it was 8:30 pm.
Now what?
No electronics meant there was nothing to distract us from our lives and from eachother… so we talked some more. After a while, we just sat and stared at the flames, trying to find our favorite ones and come up with the reasons why we liked them. I discovered that I like the flames that look like flags, and wrap themselves around the wood as they try to reach the top. We sat and waited to be tired enough to go to sleep… we waited a long time.
Finally, the moment arrived. It was time to slip into my beautiful purple sleeping bag (that I had only used once before) and drift off to sleep. Only, guess what? A sleeping bag is not too comfy when the only thing between you and the hard ground is an inch of air squeezed into a Thermarest. On top of that, it got cold… real cold. It was the kind of cold that Costa Ricans (like me!) are just not made for.Â
Hunter was asleep, so I moved out of the tent and into the back seat of our truck. That was considerably warmer, but not any more comfortable. To make a long story short-ish: the night was eternal for me. Finally, the first ray of light (hope) broke through the dense morning fog, and Jeff tapped on the window with something resembling coffee in hand. He’s a keeper, this guy!
We sat and watched the sun rise, while Hunter slept soundly, and Jeff shared with me the secret of his love for the outdoors: “When I’m out here, away from the stress of every day life, it’s like time stands still and everything is perfect.”Â
I think I get it now, finally. When you get away from it all, you still have 24 hours in a day, but each minute feels longer because you aren’t trying to fit a bunch of different things into it. Out there you just sit, breathe, and enjoy.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.†(John Muir)
I don’t know that I’ll ever enjoy sleeping in a tent, but I am more excited at the prospect of going again… when it gets a little warmer.
Are you up for it?
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Posted in beauty, family, inner peace, present moment
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Your story made me smile.
I laughed at the part about trying to convince your husband that you’re super cool chick.
Anyway, I like it when I’m doing something and time seem to slow to a crawl. It makes it easy to be completely present whether it’s pleasant or not.
Roger | A Content Life’s latest post… 30 Days of Mindful Eating – Author Interview
Don’t laugh… it worked!
This is a great story! I smiled nearly the whole way through. I love camping, but even the hardiest campers have times when they really just wish they could go home. I think that anyone who has spent a long, cold night in the woods can relate to the feeling of hope that comes with the first rays of dawn!
Congratulations on giving it one more try, and learning to…well…accept it, even if you didn’t actually *enjoy* it!
Definitely go again when it’s warmer, that makes all the difference in the world.
Jay Schryer’s latest post… Integrating the Whole
I had to read your blog twice to make sure it was yours. Lisis camping!!!! I loved the images of the camp fire, sunset, sunrise. I could feel the warmth of the fire, the cold air at night. Great adventure. Gave me “warm fuzzy feelings”. It also made me realize I don’t venture out enough. I stay in my warm cocoon with my comforts of home. I think I’ll venture out and go to the Wildflower Center with the kids on Friday and take a picnic lunch and let time stand still for the afternoon. Baby steps for me. I’m old!! D
@ Jay: I cannot tell you how elated I was to see that first puny ray of sunlight, even if it was struggling to find its way through the fog! But I figure, if I made it through THAT night, it can only get better, right? Of course, when it warms up, I’ll have to contend with bugs too… that’s a whole other challenge for me.
@ Dottie: C’mon now! You’re only as old as you feel. You, my dear, are one of my “youngest” friends. When I lived in Austin, I had a hard time keeping up with YOU! Still, the Wildflower Center sounds like a lovely way to spend a day with the kids. Don’t forget Pedernales Falls, too… but watch out for those flash floods!
Lisis,
My husband loves camping and I really do not share the same level of joy. I joke with him that hotels were created for a reason. However, I love my man dearly so I endure the camping. So I know exactly what you mean.
Nature is awesome. That is why I love the beach. It puts everything in perspective. The key though is to take that feeling with you everywhere and I really try to do that as much as I can.
Nadia – Happy Lotus’s latest post… Pain, Suffering and The Theory of Relativity (Happy Lotus Style)
Hi Lisis. This was a lovely post. There’s nothing like being away from it all, and slowing down.
@ Nadia: I’m with you, hon… I think nature is lovely, as long as I can still sleep in a bed! That reminds me, Costa Rica has some awesome jungle hotels that are up in the trees, but they have all the modern conveniences. May have to try that.
@ Michael: Is that what you’ve been doing… getting away from it all?
I love this part:
“I think I get it now, finally. When you get away from it all, you still have 24 hours in a day, but each minute feels longer because you aren’t trying to fit a bunch of different things into it. Out there you just sit, breathe, and enjoy.”
Just reading it makes me feel more relaxed!
Alison | Quest for Balance’s latest post… Roast Marshmallows, Live Longer
Camping and backpacking give me the feeling that the day is slowing passing, but I think I feel it most whenever I’m floating a river in my canoe. Maybe it is because we always start so early in the morning, and by lunch-time we already have so much behind us. Now, I’m sitting in my office, answering emails and it’s 4:00, and I don’t have alot to show for it! Well, I do have a paycheck.
@ Ali: I’m glad you got a little relaxation out of the deal. Now go outside!
@ Jeff: Awww…. we’re going to get you out of that office one of these days, I promise!!! I think your canoe has been feeling neglected.
@ Jeff: Oooh! I’ve never been canoeing! Do you do a “Canoeing for Dummies” tour?! –A
Alison | Quest for Balance’s latest post… Roast Marshmallows, Live Longer
Your post made me want marshmallows!
I’ve also noticed that time stretches out when you’re away from it all. It seems to me, though, that all I’m getting away from is the habitual overthinking I experience in the city. Too much stimulation, too much distraction. I miss a lot of details I wouldn’t miss in the woods.
David Cain’s latest post… Raptitude Experiment No. 1 — Sharpening the Mind
@ David: Maybe you should do your meditation experiment out in the woods? And, definitely get the marshmallows… they just might make you live longer.
@ Ali: You’re not a complete Dummy; you can take his “Canoeing for the Slightly Inept” tour. =-)
This is too funny. I can easily see my wife doing this. We’ve been camping a few times with our boys now, and she tries mightily, but she’s not really well adapted to “roughing it.” But she does try.
Greg’s latest post… 8 Tips To Build More Willpower
@ Greg: Tell your wife I feel for her, truly. The things we do for our boys (the little ones AND the big ones!)
[...] I look for little things to focus on and get me through: my son’s smile, the beauty of Fall, roasting marshmallows by a camp fire, racing giant pumpkins in the lake… just about anything will do. When times are easy, I make [...]