Nature and the Pursuit of Life: The Misunderstood Mind of the Hunter

As I sit here behind Pon Valley in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, I stare deeply into the glistening pond. I notice each lilly pad, each bait fish surfacing, the heron standing in the distance, and an old stone statue of a little boy frames the scene. Geese swim in the right corner of the small but distinct pond. The weather is perfect and the sun heats the skin of my back. I begin to breathe in a rhythmic pattern and I listen to the unbelievable almost surreal variety of noises that fill the air. The water is so good for driving consciousness. Anything that moves in the water leaves a wake, no matter how subtle the movement may be. I have found that water is much like life in this way.

I have an alive feeling throughout my body, mind, and spirit. I feel myself breathe into the pond and I feel immersed in it. I come to this place to read, to meditate, and to be present. Pon Valley is a very spiritual place and the energy is nearly unexplainable. It sits a mere half mile from my house and I visit this place regularly. There is a resident deer herd, but not a herd that I hunt, rather one that I study and learn from. I use this place and in turn it uses me. Everyone needs a place like Pon Valley. This is my sacred place on this day and many others.

People have often misunderstood the hunter in me. People often misunderstand the mind of a hunter. They think of hunters as just killers, not artists of the outdoors who frame their own pictures in nature. It is confusing to non-sportsmen and women how we can love wildlife, respect a deer herd or a turkey flock, study and learn from them, and even protect them. Then when it is in season we hunt them, this is confusing to the non-sportsman or woman but it all makes more sense than many realize. For me, the woods, nature, and wildlife are much of the foundation for my mind, body, and spirit. They represent an oft-needed reminder that we as human beings are only a part of a universal ecosystem that is far greater then our egos. I have always found it humbling and reassuring that we live in a limitless universe, and that nature knows no prejudice.

I love the outdoors and I harness it fully and will always be one with nature.

David Farbman

The only thing typical about my life is the non-typical nature that I appear to live in. I firmly believe in the natural order of the world, and I find that this belief helps to navigate me through life, business, and relationships, resonating with my soul. I am in flow with nature and the universe in this way. I blog in an effort to pass on a message about the connections between nature, hunting, and life. Within that realm lies an authentic, clearer path to universal connectivity that I try to live in. The answers to many of our desired outcomes can be found there. My desired outcome is to successfully pass on the ideas, wisdom, and karma that come to me because of my connection with nature and the universe. As this script unfolds in my life, I want to share and help others while adding to the greater good of the world. Many people claim this, but I truly mean it and I bring it into action every day I am on this earth--or at least I sure try. I learned to hike, camp, canoe, horseback ride, fish, and sling arrows at a very young age. A spiritual connection with the outdoors came to me as a little boy and the power of this connection has greatly increased over my lifetime. As a hyper-active person since birth, nature has always settled me down and focused me in while helping me tap into thoughts and ideas that exist within the ether. By thinking, feeling and then willing something to happen after first opening our minds and our vision in a neutral state, we can achieve that which is otherwise unthinkable. I turned 40 years old last October and this past year has served as my catalyst year to promote change. I am in a process of self-actualization as I try to live present in each moment of each day. As part of this process, certain feelings must be turned into actions and done so with complete authenticity. I often write thoughts that come to me and in turn help others--and I believe the greatest return in life is to successfully give. I founded Outdoor Hub in 2007 along with a talented bunch of people and together we created something special. For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of doing something that would help to grow the outdoors and grow hunting--earning it the respect it deserves amongst those who choose not to hunt. I am so excited to be on this journey and I invite you into the field, to climb up a tree, to crawl through the swamps and be one with nature together. Thank you for joining me, the hunt is on...