A MESSAGE FROM THE GM

■ William Cousins~VP/GM Whitetail Institute

SHARE NATURE’S ABUNDANCE

The media seems to emphasize bad news these days and skim over things that are positive and uplifting. We find ourselves feeling like the world is falling apart. But don’t let that overshadow the good news Mother Nature continues to offer.

It seems the media is consumed with focusing on what’s going wrong in our lives, from shipping bottlenecks, to shortages of everything from appliances and computer chips for new cars. It’s difficult to find reliable labor, which affects our restaurants and small businesses, and our hospitals are understaffed and overworked. For a businessman, it’s unprecedented, and it can be hard to keep from thinking about worrisome news and negative outcomes.

Even though we are surrounded by a constant source of troubling reports, I still see so many reasons to be thankful, and Mother Nature provides many of those reasons. This spring, I noticed the largest turkey poult hatch I can remember, followed by a healthy generation of fawns. Even the fish continue to bite.

It occurs to me that this is one benefit we as outdoorsmen and wildlife stewards enjoy that’s lost on folks who live entirely in artificial environments. The constancy of the abundance of nature sustains us even in times such as these. Be sure to notice these amazing things when you next visit your hunting property. Unlike our synthetic lives, the natural world is still full of abundance, not shortage. If you get a chance to share your love of nature with someone who has yet to experience the richness it provides, you might want to use that as a means to add meaning and purpose in this reportedly dim situation that surrounds us. Introduce the great outdoors to someone who hasn’t experienced the fullness nature can provide, and together we can help spread some sunshine for brighter days ahead. — William