Lessons from the Wilderness: Mongolia's Untamed Spirit

When I think back on my time in Mongolia, I’m reminded of a land as wild as it is beautiful—a place where nature reigns supreme and human presence feels like a mere whisper in the vastness of the steppe. The experience not only deepened my connection to nature but also left me with lasting lessons about life, resilience, and the spirit of adventure.

Mongolia is a country defined by its rugged landscape: rolling hills, endless grasslands, and towering mountains. There, I found myself surrounded by a wilderness so untouched it seemed to speak a language all its own. It was in this raw, untamed environment that I learned some of the most profound lessons of my journey.

One of the most powerful experiences I had was my time with a family living 20 kilometers from the village of Tosontsengel, in the north of Mongolia. When I arrived, I spoke no Mongolian, and the family’s entire English vocabulary consisted of "hello" and "dollar." The whole family—grandmother, parents, and children—lived together in a single 35-square-meter yurt. No shower. The toilet was simply three wooden walls and a hole in the ground, offering a stunning view of the surrounding steppes and mountains. Privacy was a foreign concept. Life was tough.

For a full month, I lived and shared their daily life, though I had no idea I was embarking on a deeply spiritual journey. It was an unintentional silent retreat. With no connection to the outside world and no common language to communicate, I relied on body language and mimes. Days started at 5 a.m. and ended at 10 p.m., with no running water or electricity, and temperatures often dropping to minus 20 or even minus 39 degrees Celsius. Eating their food, following their rhythms, and squeezing into the same small space—it was a test of both endurance and adaptation.

I remember one day in particular when I felt utterly overwhelmed. I ran off to the mountains to cry, feeling lonely, misunderstood, and powerless. It was deeper than a silence retreat because I didn’t even realize that’s what it was. If I had understood it as a spiritual experience, perhaps I would have held on with more hope. Instead, I blamed myself for putting myself in such a situation. Yet, looking back, I now know it was one of the most transformative experiences of my life.

One moment stands out: the family’s son dropped me off in the middle of the steppe on his motorbike, pointed at a cow and her newborn calf, and rode away. I realized my task was to bring them home. But how? There were no roads, no paths—just endless horizons and mountains. I had no watch, no phone, no idea of time or distance. I decided to trust the cow to lead the way, ensuring the calf—wobbly and weak—didn’t get left behind. For hours, I held the calf steady between my legs, guiding it through the vastness of the steppes.

When I finally arrived "home" just before nightfall, the feeling of pride was overwhelming. That moment of self-reliance and determination remains etched in my memory—a testament to the strength we discover when faced with the unknown.

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What Mongolia Taught Me

One of the greatest lessons I learned was resilience. The Mongolian people endure harsh winters, wind-swept summers, and unpredictable weather patterns that most of us in the modern world could never fathom. Their strength and ability to adapt are unparalleled. Living in this wilderness taught me that life, much like nature, is not always predictable. Obstacles may feel insurmountable, but staying grounded, adapting, and moving forward are key.

Another lesson was the power of simplicity. In the vastness of the steppe, life is stripped down to its essentials—no distractions, no excess. Just survival and connection to the land and animals that sustain us. The simplicity of daily life—tending animals, working with the land, and living in yurts—is a powerful reminder of how little we truly need to find fulfillment.

In a world consumed by materialism and the endless pursuit of success, the wilderness of Mongolia shows us that the most profound experiences often come when we are most connected to nature, stripped of all excess, and focused only on what truly matters.

Mongolia: A Space to Think and Feel

Resilience in the face of adversity: The Mongolian spirit of perseverance is a constant reminder that we can overcome any challenge, no matter how harsh.

Simplicity: Life, at its core, is about the basics. Stripping away distractions and finding fulfillment in the essentials can be incredibly powerful.

Connection to nature: The deeper we connect with the natural world, the more we come to understand ourselves. The wilderness speaks to us in ways that words cannot.

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Mongolia’s wilderness is not just a place to visit, but a teacher in itself. It’s a space that invites us to reconnect with what’s real and true. It’s a reminder that in the face of life’s many trials, we can always find strength, resilience, and wisdom—if we are willing to listen.