Day 2: Find Your Story in the Wild
Let nature speak to you.
Heroine, every great story starts with a spark of curiosity—and today, that spark comes from the world around you.
Here’s your prompt for Day 2:
Find one natural object—a rock, leaf, or stick—that speaks to you. Reflect on why it caught your attention.
Like a good book, nature has a way of revealing truths when we’re paying attention. Maybe that rock reminds you of the time you overcame something heavy. Or that leaf whispers of growth, change, or even letting go.
Take a moment to sit with your object, let it tell you its story, and reflect on how it connects to your own.
And since we’re on the subject of stories, here’s a question to ponder:
What’s the most inspiring nature-related book you’ve ever read?
Let us know in the comments below (feel free to simply leave a photo if that’s what moves you), or on Substack Notes (tag your reflections with #LoveTheWild). Who knows—you might inspire someone else’s next great read.
Here’s to discovering your story, one day at a time.
With wild wonder,
Jill & the Outdoor Book Club Team
P.S. Receiving too many emails from us? Opt out of the challenge here:
As far as finding an object, everything is pretty much covered in snow! But I did find five deer in my driveway upon returning home from a drink downtown with one of my girlfriends, and city girl that I am, I never cease to be amazed by their beauty. I am lucky to witness their fawn stage in the spring, so sweet and vulnerable, and their teenage phase, where they stamp their hooves at me when I encroach on their woods to walk back to my garden, and their adult stage, where I often get to see them fattened up for winter with their big puffy fur, and nurturing their young in the spring. I will never tire of watching the deer!
For my favorite nature-inspired text, I don't even know where to begin, but my most recent favorite is "Into Siberia: George Kennan's Epic Journey Through the Brutal Frozen Heart of Russia." What a title! And it made my feel like my Michigan winter is a walk in the park compared to tent camping in Siberia!
I hate that you can’t post a picture in the comments (that I can tell). But I’d post a photo of my dog’s footprint in the fresh snow that fell overnight. Fresh snow almost always makes me happy.
As far as a nature -inspired book, I was going to say “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed, but the I thought back even further & remembered how “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George completely captivated me (George’s “Julie of the Wolves” was a close second). I was so taken with the idea of a kid being able to live in nature by themselves, I journaled about it for weeks.