A Time for Thanks and Giving

As I was getting into my truck this afternoon to leave camp my Uncle gave me a quick "Hey”, so I climbed back out. He looked at me and said “Thank you.” To make the moment not so sentimental I looked back at him and said “No, thank you” and we both smiled and headed home from a great weekend at camp. He wasn’t just referring to the four hours of work we had just put in, but the decades of working together as a team to make our camp and our lives better. You see, instead of hitting the woods this morning I stayed back at camp and helped him process his buck from skinning to wrapping individual 1.5lbs bags of meat. This is what family is supposed to do for each other. I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. But on my way home I guess I did give it a second thought. From Parishville to Massena that's all I really thought about. Yes we just celebrated Thanksgiving and I have to say that I had a wonderful day full of family and friends, but there is so much more to be thankful for. The little things that I take for granted everyday, but I’m working on getting better at. I started making a mental list of all the little things that at times I overlook. So I figured I would share my list with you all in hopes that maybe my list will get you thinking about your own list of things to be thankful for.

Waking up every morning. It sounds so simple, we get up and go about our day. We head to work and do whatever we have to do to get by. Lord knows I spend a good part of my day wishing I wasn’t at work but it has to be done. We rarely take a moment to look at the big picture. We have been given another day with our family and friends. Another day to explore this magical world and appreciate everything it has to offer us. I’m going to work hard on being thankful for every day I have.

Watching the sun rise. All too often we get stuck in our morning routines of the hustle and bustle of getting kids and ourselves ready for work and school. We rush around the house constantly telling ourselves and kids to hurry up, We are going to be late. We rarely take a few moments to take a look at the sunrise. Living here in the North Country it’s easy to take for granted, but for the most part we can all see it. We aren’t surrounded by skyscrapers and big buildings like a lot of city folks are. A lot of mornings the sunrise can be quite breathtaking here and just taking two minutes out of our crazy lives to appreciate the beauty could make our mornings a bit better. I want to try and take a few moments every morning to watch the sunrise and be thankful for the day ahead a bit more.

Embracing time in nature. By now you all know I’m a bit of a nature buff. Heck I’ve spent almost a full year sharing with everyone my outdoor adventures and great places to check out. I think we spend way too much time indoors and on electronic devices. Yes, it is an important part of our lives but we need to learn to unplug. Get away from the up to the second updates on everything in the world and get outside. Get away from cell service, cars, and our houses. Break free from our jobs and embrace the great outdoors. Feel the breeze on our faces and the sun on our back. I’m not saying you have to spend weeks on end away from it all, but we need to spend a bit more time recharging our own batteries and a little less time focusing on our phone batteries. I am so thankful for the time I have in the woods and I want to focus on getting more time out there.

The conservation efforts of the past and future. So often we walk out the door with a plan to go hunting, fishing, hiking, paddling, or any other kind of outdoor adventure without thinking much about what it has taken to allow us to do things like this. We have had a huge impact on our environment and wildlife. Thanks to the efforts of people like Theodore

Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold and Bruce Babbitt we are able to enjoy these things that at one time were becoming very limited. Today we have people like Mike Beagle, Bob Mallard, and Yvon Chouinard who stand up for our wild places and wildlife. We have organizations like the ADK Club, Native Fish Coalition, Trout Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Trout Power just to name a few. These people and organizations fight every day to keep our land and waters clean, healthy and accessible for all of us. Each of them may have a different topic they are fighting for but they all share the same common goal. I am thankful for all the effort they have put in and I will work to do my part to make this planet a little better.

Thankful for the change of the seasons. If you live in the North Country you know that our summers are too short and our winters are too long. But I have to say that I am thankful for getting the opportunity to enjoy all four seasons. For me every season represents another activity to enjoy. Skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Fishing and hiking in the spring. Boating and paddling in the summer. Fall brings hunting, hiking and some of the best fishing of the year. We are lucky to be able to enjoy all four seasons. It gives me something to always look forward to all year round.

Thankful for my readers and supporters. When I decided to start writing I really did it for myself. It was something I enjoyed doing but was never very good at. Here I am almost a year later with several hundred followers on all social media platforms. I am so thankful for all of you. I thank you for all of the encouragement and kind words. You keep me accountable for getting outside and sharing what I have learned. I’m looking forward to another year of sharing my adventures with all of you. THANK YOU!

Thankful for my family and friends. I wouldn't be where I am today without my family and friends. They have been my biggest supporters through this writing adventure. My wife, the editor and person that encourages me to keep writing. My Thursday night fishing buddy who is always giving me a lesson on fly fishing and life in general. My mother, who is always the first reader of every blog post. My father, who is always up for a kayak trip or a round of really bad golf. My uncle and the rest of my friends and family at camp, who are always there to make hunting season the best one ever every year. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. With all of you by my side I will keep working on my dream of one day being published.

Thankful for the sunset. Last but not least I am thankful for the sunset. After a long day I can’t help but spend a moment watching the sun set on another day. I think we all need to spend a few more days a year just watching the sunset. Whether it’s from a tree stand or from the shore of the St. Lawrence River you need to take the time to watch it. It is one of the most beautiful things on earth. Take the time to reflect on the day as the sun fades away.

As we enter the giving season here are a few things I want you to think about giving.

The gift of the outdoors with family and friends. If you are looking for a different gift idea give the gift of the outdoors to a loved one. It doesn’t cost much and it will create a far better memory than any other physical gift. Take someone on a hiking or camping trip. Take off with them on a fishing weekend or a mountain biking adventure. It doesn’t have to be far from home but get them away from it all for a few days. I promise it will be worth it.

A gift to yourself of being outdoors alone. As much as we all love being with our family and friends we all need a break once and a while. Give yourself the gift of being alone in the woods for the day. The time spent reflecting on life will make you a better person, parent, and friend.

The gift of a donation to a conservation group. We all spend money on some pretty silly things throughout the year. This year for Christmas give the gift of a membership to a conservation organization. There are tons of them to choose from. They range from $20 to $100 depending on which one you choose. Most come with a small gift, a newsletter or magazine, and other opportunities like discounts and coupons. These groups spend a good chunk of your money fighting for the cause you are interested in. Instead of a regular stocking stuffer for your kid or other loved one, think about signing them up for one of these great groups. I am a member of several of them and I enjoy reading about what they are doing with the money raised. I will give a plug for my favorite one, the Native Fish Coalition. Recently New York formed its own chapter and I was asked to be the Vice Chairman of this great group of people. So if you are looking for a last minute gift idea think about the gift of conservation.

We are now in the full swing of the holiday season. I ask that you please take a moment and really think about the small things in life that you are thankful for. In the upcoming year try to take a little more time to appreciate them. With giving on your mind, think outside the box on your holiday gifts. Something as simple as the gift of time spent outdoors can really make a difference in someone's life. I want to thank all of you for your support and I hope you all have a great holiday season. Remember there is always a Northern NY Adventure right outside your door.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures

“Make Life an Adventure”