21 Sep 3 lessons I learned from talking to Dr Kate Grarock from Australia’s version of ALONE
As a keen hiker and camper, I became familiar with Dr Kate’s YouTube channel some time ago (HERE). Having watched a lot of content from North America, and the UK, I loved seeing someone exploring and showing off some great Aussie bush. And she did it so well, with such humility and, at times, humour.
So I was pretty excited when, in late 2022 or early 2023 I learned she was going to feature in the first Australian version of the hit realty TV show, ALONE.
And she didn’t disappoint. Kate excelled in so many ways and although she didn’t quite come in number 1, she was definitely a crowd favourite, admired for her attitude and resilience and so much more.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we connected via social media, and every now and then would chat about things related to bushwalking, nature therapy and even public speaking.
Today, the story took another turn after Dr Kate generously agreed to make time in her busy schedule to talk to my friends at batyr (HERE). batyr is a fantastic youth mental health organisation who among other things, run school programs designed to smash the stigma associated with mental ill-health via positive conversations and then, increase help-seeking behaviours.
I’m batyr’s Chief Happiness Office and one of my activities is to coordinate monthly health and wellbeing sessions to the staff. Most of these I deliver myself, but for some, I bring in special guests. And today, Dr Kate was our special guest.
It was fantastic to hear about Kate’s work as an ecologist, her role at BUSH BLITZ, and her evolution as a YouTuber. But the most fascinating aspects of our Q&A came when discussing her time ALONE down in Tasmania, trying to survive in some pretty harsh and remote conditions. Speaking on behalf of the whole team at batyr I can’t possibly describe all of what we learned but there were 3 KEY LESSONS that really stood out to me:
- having some structure in our days and lives is vital. If it’s not provided by a job, or something else, we really need to create it ourselves
- having a “why?” to get up for each day, and to get us through life’s most difficult moments is also essential. There’s no doubt Kate and the others on ALONE would have loved to have won the prize money, but Kate noted that providing inspiration for her daughter, and family and friends more generally, was massively more powerful
- and finally, the BIG ONE, was the power of connection. Trying to survive in the middle of nowhere, to create shelter and to find food and water, was undoubtedly difficult, but being alone, for such an extended period, was, according to Kate, by far and away the most difficult challenge. Having watched other ALONE series, I was reminded of the fact that more people seemed to “tap out” due to loneliness and missing loved ones, compared to those who left due to hunger or even injury.
This final point, especially, serves as a stark reminder; a reminder that too often we take for granted the importance of connection and loved ones in our lives. And so I’ll finish with this … don’t do that! Don’t take your loved ones for granted. Love them, tell them you love them, and allow them to love you. There really is NOTHING more important to not just surviving but to THRIVING in life.