One of the main reasons I like to wander through nature is the lack of people around. Nevertheless, it is very difficult (at least in the centre of Europe) not to meet anyone for a longer duration of time. Most of those other wanderers are there for what I assume is a similar reason to mine. Over time, I’ve had plenty of very nice conversations with random strangers. Some of them I’ll never meet again. With a few, we might cross paths again, from time to time. Whether we talk or not, there’s a shared mentality, a sense of decency, or at least a common humanity.
That puts the other interactions in stark contrast - angry people. I’m not sure if it’s just a random observation, but there seem to be a lot of angry people these days. And they’re angry all the time. What might be an ordinary passing-by can turn into an explosive situation - shouting, unnecessary acts of aggression, either through words or body language. When it’s directed at me, I can handle it, but sometimes it’s aimed at those more vulnerable - women and children.
You have to wonder what triggers such reactions. Is it the stress eating someone up from the inside? The selfish desire to control everything and everyone in their own twisted view of the world? The inability to see beyond “ME” being the centre of the universe? I just hope this isn’t something deeper that runs through society.
Yet, even with these encounters, I believe they are the exception, not the rule. The majority of people I meet are kind, respectful, and just as eager as I am to escape the noise of everyday life. It’s these moments of quiet connection, shared smiles, or even just a nod in passing that remind me there’s still a lot of good out there. Perhaps that’s the real gift of wandering - the chance to see both the best and worst in people, and to choose to focus on the good. In the end, it’s about finding peace within ourselves and extending that peace to others, no matter what the world throws our way.