==== ==== Hello from user. http://e58d3sjfx10nwjo8v8ppo9025a.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=GMSJMJF2 ==== ====
This week we're off to the San Pedro de Atacama Desert in northern Chile. I want to tell you a bit about this little gem of a destination (hint: it's the driest place on Earth), summarize the story of my experience there, and end by sharing some life lessons that I think apply well here. 10 to be exact. That's always a good round number. THE ALGORITHM As you'll see later, the overarching theme here, or optimal living algorithm (or OLA, as I like to call it), has to do with adaptability and simplicity, which I (and many others) would define as the ability to adjust, through the simplest means, to new and previously unknown environments and circumstances. The algorithm here is simple (as I like them to be) and applied correctly, can seriously improve your chances of survival. Apply it consistently in your life, and there is a good chance you'll make it past 100 (agewise that is). That's what they say at least. Here are the variables (or the three As): Variables Adapt (understand the new parameters) Adjust (settle upon a course of action based on those parameters and your life experience) Act (take immediate and appropriate actions based on your conclusions) Formula If and when presented with a new environment: adapt + adjust + act = survive and thrive The Driest Place on Earth The Atacama Desert is a virtually rainless plateau located in the Northern half of Chile. Experts attribute its extremely dry climate to the to the blockage of moisture on both sides by the Andes mountains to the East and by the Chilean Coast Range to the West. There are numerous locations within the region that have never (and I do mean, NEVER) recorded a single drop of rain. Part of the reason for this is its location (between two mountain ranges) and a coastal inversion layer created by the cold Humboldt Current and an anticyclone of the Pacific known as the Pacific High. The nearest city, Antofagasta, records an average annual rainfall of just one millimeter.
The desert covers approximately a 600-mile stretch of land, from the Pacific coast to the Andes Mountaind, and occupies 40,600 square miles of Northern Chile. It is mostly composed of salt basins, sand and felsic lava. To read more check out the article on Wikipedia. They'll give you the basics to this mysterious place, as I found out when I decided to test its inhospitable (though I found it quite friendly) conditions. The Backstory Ok. Now here's the backstory. In 2000, I travelled to Santiago, Chile on a student exchange program organized by my alma mater, Tufts University (in Boston in case you don't recognize it, not many folks do). Being the young (and totally) restless chap that I was (and to some extent, still am), I spent most of my time opting out of traditional study methods (classrooms, and essays) and embracing a more, how'd you say, organic approach to my education. I hit the streets. And when I got bored of life in the city, it was time to hightail it outta there, and hit the road. Back pack in hand, I started by heading North. Naturally, when I first heard about the Atacama desert and its unique standing as the driest place on this planet, I knew I had to go. That sounds like something that's right up my alley. So I flew into Antofagasta (surprised by how good LanChile, the local airline was), and took a bus into the heart of this no man's land. Not having the slightest clue what to expect, I was a bit on edge upon arrival, but excited at what the next four days had in store (I'm not sure you need much more than that, unless you're conducting research of some kind). This place was a beast. Nothing could have prepared me for the utter desolation there. I hadn't quite experience anything like it before. It looked like Mars, and felt like the land that time forgot. I kept trying to make sure that I had a bottle of water with me at all times just in case. This place is not for the faint of heart. Fundamentally, it may be a minimalist's dream. When you live in a place like the Atacama Desert, you have no choice but to think in terms of what's essential. The climate is so harsh and conditions so inhospitable that you won't want to exert any more energy than you have to or carry any more resources than what you absolutely need. In my case, that consisted of the clothes on my back (with the option to remove if conditions got too hot, and they DID), and enough food and water to get through each day. I ended up having a great time doing things I had never done, like sandboarding, visiting salt deposits, checking out water geysers, and horseback riding in the desert sun, but I was always careful to pay this place the respect it naturally commanded. And I managed to learn a few things along the way. Here is what I took away, and how these lessons can be applied to your life. 10 Indispensable Lessons Learned from Atacama Nothing is impossible. I mean seriously, if you can survive the heat and dryness and utter desolation of a week in the Atacama dessert, then you can do anything. No matter what, someone out there has it worse than you. I hate to think of life that way, but sometimes (and forgive me for being the one to say it) it can be quite a comforting thought. Living things persevere, no matter what the odds. While my crew and I were there, we were
warned of certain living organisms that have a propensity to sting or bite, an action meaning certain death for their victim (quite possibly you). But I digress. The point here is that if those guys can hang in there in the heat and sand, and actually thrive, it must have been through centuries of perseverance and adaptation. Using their creativity they were able to adjust to the extreme conditions and develop tools and skill to find whatever they needed to survive. Don't be afraid to push forth when the environment does everything it can to stand in your way. Adaptability is the key to longevity. Implement it. Studies show that it is one of the most common character traits of centenarians (people who live past the century mark, and that's saying something). Water is essential to life. Drink plenty of it, and always know where to get it. Without water, you're just not going to make it. I suggest carrying around a bottle with you wherever you go. Sounds obvious, but I bet some of you out there go days without drinking the good stuff. My recommendation: consider changing that. I drink the equivalent of at least four bottles of water a day. It really helps invigorate the system. Finding balance is better than living in the extremes. This one can be tricky. I really like living on the edge, but one thing I like more is always returning to the center. Make sure that if you choose to go off the reservation, or swim out into open sea, that you don't lose sight of the shore. (it's worth noting that this directly contradicts last week's quote, but then again, I'm known for contradicting myself). I would just make sure to remember to have a balance within the different aspects of your life. Don't work too hard, Don't play too hard, etc. etc. All sides of our character need nourishing at certain times. Necessity breeds simplicity. Situations of necessity require that you focus only on the essential. When high stakes are on the line, (like life and death, or living life on your own terms) it pays to spend you energy on only those things that matter most. Not doing so can cause you to pay the ultimate price. Change is always just around the corner, be ready for it. If you've been to the desert, any desert, you know that though it may not rain, the temperature will shift (drop) dramatically as the day turns into night. While in Atacama, I took a van with fellow journeymen adventurers into the high desert to see some geysers. Departure time was 6 am. It was still dark and the temperature was brrrrrr! cold. I set off wearing jeans, two T-shirts and a thick Patagonia fleece to shelter me from the chill (but brought a sack with some warmer weather alternatives just in case. As the sun began to rise, along with the temperature, I began to break a sweat, and this place is the driest it gets. By noon I was shirtless, and wearing shorts. The temperature had gone from the low 40s to past the century mark in the matter of a few hours. By nightfall it was cold again, and we were compelled to build a bonfire. Change is coming. It's not a question of if, but when. Get a glimpse of what life in Mars is like. There have been movies that talk about the depletion of resources here on Earth, and the prospect of all of us having to pack it up, and ship on over to the Red Planet. The topic is being taken so seriously that Nasa and even Presidents are exploring what the possibilities are, and if it is indeed an option. It's not one I am willing to consider just yet, but our kid's kids just might have to. If you want to get a glimpse of what that would look like, a short trip to Atacama will enlighten you.
Sand boarding in the desert is hella' fun. You should definitely look into it.
Gianpaolo Pietri is an architect and a writer. Based in Miami, Florida he has helped design some of the towers that have shaped the new Miami skyline. He has also designed buildings in Dubai, Brasil, and Las Vegas. In addition to his design work, he writes bi-weekly articles on the Optimalists (http://theoptimalists.net) a lifestyle blog dedicated to facilitating self improvement and personal development by tapping into our creativity and discovering the inspiration within us. His articles approach the subject of creativity from a singular perspective based on history, philosophy, and his own experiences doing what he loves.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gianpaolo_Pietri
==== ==== Hello from user. http://e58d3sjfx10nwjo8v8ppo9025a.hop.clickbank.net/?tid=GMSJMJF2 ==== ====