A Note from Me.

Something to capture where we've been and where we are going

That’s me, wandering off in the snow at Mt. Ranier

Winter provides the silence needed for deeper introspection. The shorter days and cooler temps give us the time to sit with these thoughts, and let them just be. Void of most distractions and allowing us to have genuine reflection. In the early winter days, this is coupled with the calendar year ending. It is a unique opportunity to take stock of what we have done, and devise what we hope to complete in the coming year.

Looking Back to Move Forward

In June, I launched the “On Nature” Substack along with another on a different topic. I wasn’t really sure about what my next writing project should be, so I used both to identify where I should put my focus. This helped me frame up where my effort would best be allocated in regards to my next book. In just a couple of months, two things became unmistakably clear. The first, was which Substack was more popular and engaged more people. The second, was where a stronger passion was rooted.

It was about nature. Combining my background in psychology with my love of the outdoors to guide my writing about it. Our connection to it, and our need to protect it. Not to share and grandiose my own experiences in it, rather to use those experiences as inspiration for what nature can offer us. What it is we can gain from it if we go in with the right purpose. Our intention for nature, and nature’s intention for us. I admit, maintaining this clarity was a struggle at times. As any aspiring writer on Substack will attest, it is easy to be distracted by the needs for “growth” or “revenue generation”. Tailoring your approach in the name of gaining more subscribers, over focusing on quality of writing. But I do strongly believe that in the end, quality writing will win out over quantity of mere content.

With this in mind, I make two pledges for the future:

This will Always be Free.

The pull to create tiers, to charge for something I do in my spare time, and put up paywalls on writings that would most likely stay unread on my hard drive…This is something I simply will not do. Much like access to public lands, the access to these writings, stories and essays will be free. Intended to be readily available for anyone who enjoys reading about nature, and looks for different ways to connect with it.

As much as I would enjoy having writing become my primary source of income, there will be other ways to do that. Charging for this won’t be one of them. Until then, my day job will cover my bills.

Encouraging Getting Off the Platform.

Every Friday, I shut down Substack, I close out my laptop, and get out into the world (I still don’t have the app on my phone). Sometimes, this happens earlier with trips and time spent away. I encourage others to do the same every time, making it clear that true connection to nature comes from getting out into it (not just reading about it). If this upsets the algorithms, and stunts my growth on the platform? So be it. Spending time outdoors helps me create quality works, fighting the idea of quantity of posts.

And if you are writer, inspiration won’t be found behind a screen. You need to get out and have experiences worth writing about. My hope is it happens more often in 2026, be it for Mt biking, long walks, and camping with the family. Getting out and experiencing more will only lead to writing more.

Coming into the new year, the spirit of On Nature will remain the same. Exploring different ideas like the various landscapes shaping our perception (from the forests, to the deserts, highest mountains, to the breezy shores) and how we need to make an effort to go into nature better. To encouraging both grand adventure, as well as the continued local jaunts. And appreciating the moments that simply will not last.

I’ll be shutting my laptop in the coming days for good long bit. Taking some time to travel, connect with family and friends, and (hopefully) get out on my skis for the first time this season. If not, then some time walking through snowy trails adding my own tracks alongside other intrepid winter travelers.

I hope you all do the same.

Happy Holidays,

Tyler