How I slayed Addiction with Nature | Dax Justin | TEDxCanmore

this isn’t just a normal picture of

this isn’t just a normal picture of random clouds to me this is what I saw

random clouds to me this is what I saw

random clouds to me this is what I saw when I woke up on my back looking

when I woke up on my back looking

when I woke up on my back looking straight up and when I sat up I didn’t

straight up and when I sat up I didn’t

straight up and when I sat up I didn’t have my shirt I didn’t have my cell

have my shirt I didn’t have my cell

have my shirt I didn’t have my cell phone wallet keys when I looked down I

phone wallet keys when I looked down I

phone wallet keys when I looked down I didn’t have my shoes my toes were ripped

didn’t have my shoes my toes were ripped

didn’t have my shoes my toes were ripped through my socks and in that moment I

through my socks and in that moment I

through my socks and in that moment I had lost the fatality of life and I was

had lost the fatality of life and I was

had lost the fatality of life and I was dead to myself now how did I get to the

dead to myself now how did I get to the

dead to myself now how did I get to the place I was at well the night before I

place I was at well the night before I

place I was at well the night before I ended up at this place called the croc

ended up at this place called the croc

ended up at this place called the croc hose and I didn’t make any conscious

hose and I didn’t make any conscious

hose and I didn’t make any conscious decisions to get there it was a sequence

decisions to get there it was a sequence

decisions to get there it was a sequence of bad decisions I remember sitting in

of bad decisions I remember sitting in

of bad decisions I remember sitting in the corner of this sofa I looked out

the corner of this sofa I looked out

the corner of this sofa I looked out into his dark empty room not empty with

into his dark empty room not empty with

into his dark empty room not empty with people

people

people empty in Soul windows are boarded up and

empty in Soul windows are boarded up and

empty in Soul windows are boarded up and I remember looking out and there’s a guy

I remember looking out and there’s a guy

I remember looking out and there’s a guy beside me on the couch and he was

beside me on the couch and he was

beside me on the couch and he was tweaking out know if you’ve ever been

tweaking out know if you’ve ever been

tweaking out know if you’ve ever been around someone when they’re doing that

around someone when they’re doing that

around someone when they’re doing that but it’s freaky at that moment I

but it’s freaky at that moment I

but it’s freaky at that moment I realized that I was in the darkest

realized that I was in the darkest

realized that I was in the darkest corner of the universe and I felt that

corner of the universe and I felt that

corner of the universe and I felt that I felt like I was never going to escape

I felt like I was never going to escape

I felt like I was never going to escape that place well that was also because

that place well that was also because

that place well that was also because there was a guy standing by the door

there was a guy standing by the door

there was a guy standing by the door with a Rambo sized knife block in the

with a Rambo sized knife block in the

with a Rambo sized knife block in the doorway cuz he didn’t want us to leave

doorway cuz he didn’t want us to leave

doorway cuz he didn’t want us to leave because he thought there was law

because he thought there was law

because he thought there was law enforcement or something around and if

enforcement or something around and if

enforcement or something around and if there was law enforcement around that

there was law enforcement around that

there was law enforcement around that night it would have been on the losing

night it would have been on the losing

night it would have been on the losing end of a gun battle so at one point they

end of a gun battle so at one point they

end of a gun battle so at one point they took me into this back room and they

took me into this back room and they

took me into this back room and they lifted up the mattress and for the first

lifted up the mattress and for the first

lifted up the mattress and for the first time in my life I saw machine guns not

time in my life I saw machine guns not

time in my life I saw machine guns not only that but we were surrounded by the

only that but we were surrounded by the

only that but we were surrounded by the dangerous most dangerous chemicals known

dangerous most dangerous chemicals known

dangerous most dangerous chemicals known to man so I had to escape and I waited

to man so I had to escape and I waited

to man so I had to escape and I waited until everyone went into that back room

until everyone went into that back room

until everyone went into that back room and I took my opportunity and I bolted

and I took my opportunity and I bolted

and I took my opportunity and I bolted out the front door now when I did that I

out the front door now when I did that I

out the front door now when I did that I was obviously doing my escape but the

was obviously doing my escape but the

was obviously doing my escape but the problem with everything is I ran until I

problem with everything is I ran until I

problem with everything is I ran until I collapsed it wasn’t just a physical

collapsed it wasn’t just a physical

collapsed it wasn’t just a physical collapse it was like a collapse of all

collapse it was like a collapse of all

collapse it was like a collapse of all of your life and soul so that day I

of your life and soul so that day I

of your life and soul so that day I ended up at the hospital doctor said I

ended up at the hospital doctor said I

ended up at the hospital doctor said I was on a cocktail of drugs I don’t

was on a cocktail of drugs I don’t

was on a cocktail of drugs I don’t remember doing them but I except that I

remember doing them but I except that I

remember doing them but I except that I did do them

my mom my close friends even friends who

my mom my close friends even friends who I have from the Calgary Police Service

I have from the Calgary Police Service

I have from the Calgary Police Service were there and they were there to nurse

were there and they were there to nurse

were there and they were there to nurse me back to life and in that moment I had

me back to life and in that moment I had

me back to life and in that moment I had a choice and I chose life I didn’t know

a choice and I chose life I didn’t know

a choice and I chose life I didn’t know I actually I didn’t know where I was the

I actually I didn’t know where I was the

I actually I didn’t know where I was the night before I took until like 5:00 p.m.

night before I took until like 5:00 p.m.

night before I took until like 5:00 p.m. the next day for me to remember what

the next day for me to remember what

the next day for me to remember what happened and I didn’t know if my friends

happened and I didn’t know if my friends

happened and I didn’t know if my friends were dead or alive I had a very good

were dead or alive I had a very good

were dead or alive I had a very good buddy with me there that ended up that

buddy with me there that ended up that

buddy with me there that ended up that place I didn’t know where he was I

place I didn’t know where he was I

place I didn’t know where he was I didn’t know if he got his chance to you

didn’t know if he got his chance to you

didn’t know if he got his chance to you know

and you know now with perspective it

and you know now with perspective it didn’t matter if he was dead or alive

didn’t matter if he was dead or alive

didn’t matter if he was dead or alive because we were both dead and alive

because we were both dead and alive

because we were both dead and alive that’s how we were living without

that’s how we were living without

that’s how we were living without knowing it so I chose life and I decided

knowing it so I chose life and I decided

knowing it so I chose life and I decided to understand why and how I got to that

to understand why and how I got to that

to understand why and how I got to that place I was a very different type of

place I was a very different type of

place I was a very different type of person as super creative I like to go

person as super creative I like to go

person as super creative I like to go hard into things when I love stuff so

hard into things when I love stuff so

hard into things when I love stuff so when I heard about the concept of

when I heard about the concept of

when I heard about the concept of addiction I was like oh I’m not that

addiction I was like oh I’m not that

addiction I was like oh I’m not that okay there’s no way I’m an addict like

okay there’s no way I’m an addict like

okay there’s no way I’m an addict like an addict is those guys that night I got

an addict is those guys that night I got

an addict is those guys that night I got news for all of you we’re all addicts

news for all of you we’re all addicts

news for all of you we’re all addicts we’re all addicts to a certain extent

we’re all addicts to a certain extent

we’re all addicts to a certain extent with something even people who rush to

with something even people who rush to

with something even people who rush to the Starbucks first thing in the morning

the Starbucks first thing in the morning

the Starbucks first thing in the morning I love you guys but you’re all addicts

I love you guys but you’re all addicts

I love you guys but you’re all addicts right so you know once I took months to

right so you know once I took months to

right so you know once I took months to understand this idea of addiction I

understand this idea of addiction I

understand this idea of addiction I understood very fast that it’s

understood very fast that it’s

understood very fast that it’s misunderstood and to be honest the

misunderstood and to be honest the

misunderstood and to be honest the common misconception or the common idea

common misconception or the common idea

common misconception or the common idea out there right now is that the opposite

out there right now is that the opposite

out there right now is that the opposite of addiction is sobriety so I did that

of addiction is sobriety so I did that

of addiction is sobriety so I did that you know it’s been like 18 or 20 months

you know it’s been like 18 or 20 months

you know it’s been like 18 or 20 months or something I stopped counting because

or something I stopped counting because

or something I stopped counting because it was like I discovered something else

it was like I discovered something else

it was like I discovered something else and I discovered that the true opposite

and I discovered that the true opposite

and I discovered that the true opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety its

of addiction isn’t sobriety its

of addiction isn’t sobriety its connection not connection to our devices

connection not connection to our devices

connection not connection to our devices not just connection with human spirit

not just connection with human spirit

not just connection with human spirit but connection to every spirit

but connection to every spirit

but connection to every spirit everything that’s alive

so this one day I woke up and I was

so this one day I woke up and I was drawn and compelled to nature

drawn and compelled to nature

drawn and compelled to nature I took my truck out and got lost in the

I took my truck out and got lost in the

I took my truck out and got lost in the woods the Sun hit the snow differently

woods the Sun hit the snow differently

woods the Sun hit the snow differently that day I found dream catchers and

that day I found dream catchers and

that day I found dream catchers and teepees and my shoes broke apart and

teepees and my shoes broke apart and

teepees and my shoes broke apart and there was like a big cleansing type of

there was like a big cleansing type of

there was like a big cleansing type of thing that happened when that happened I

thing that happened when that happened I

thing that happened when that happened I called my buddies in Calgary and I was

called my buddies in Calgary and I was

called my buddies in Calgary and I was like hey man like do you guys know about

like hey man like do you guys know about

like hey man like do you guys know about like nature here like I feel I feel

like nature here like I feel I feel

like nature here like I feel I feel connected to something out here you know

connected to something out here you know

connected to something out here you know I was just like not even hope to brag

I was just like not even hope to brag

I was just like not even hope to brag Creek yet I had never explored these

Creek yet I had never explored these

Creek yet I had never explored these areas where I hate serious and I called

areas where I hate serious and I called

areas where I hate serious and I called three people that day closes people in

three people that day closes people in

three people that day closes people in my life told them what I felt they all

my life told them what I felt they all

my life told them what I felt they all called me one thing they called me crazy

called me one thing they called me crazy

called me one thing they called me crazy so after that there was this big

so after that there was this big

so after that there was this big disconnect between me and like city

disconnect between me and like city

disconnect between me and like city lifestyle what actually happened that

lifestyle what actually happened that

lifestyle what actually happened that day is that I was drawn to pursue the

day is that I was drawn to pursue the

day is that I was drawn to pursue the wild and I’ve relentlessly pursued it

wild and I’ve relentlessly pursued it

wild and I’ve relentlessly pursued it without even thinking about it

without even thinking about it

without even thinking about it I left my nine-to-five when everyone

I left my nine-to-five when everyone

I left my nine-to-five when everyone passed bright Creek every day and I’m

passed bright Creek every day and I’m

passed bright Creek every day and I’m still going further every day and so

still going further every day and so

still going further every day and so when I was compelled to go into nature I

when I was compelled to go into nature I

when I was compelled to go into nature I felt alive there was a most purest thing

felt alive there was a most purest thing

felt alive there was a most purest thing I had ever ever felt and not only that I

I had ever ever felt and not only that I

I had ever ever felt and not only that I kind of felt like a kid again it goes

kind of felt like a kid again it goes

kind of felt like a kid again it goes running around in the woods acting crazy

running around in the woods acting crazy

running around in the woods acting crazy like where war paint and stuff – I got

like where war paint and stuff – I got

like where war paint and stuff – I got really into it and you know I discovered

really into it and you know I discovered

really into it and you know I discovered it was like I was a child again kind of

it was like I was a child again kind of

it was like I was a child again kind of discovering childhood again but this

discovering childhood again but this

discovering childhood again but this time it was different it wasn’t

time it was different it wasn’t

time it was different it wasn’t childhood it was wild hood and that

childhood it was wild hood and that

childhood it was wild hood and that moment changed my life so I started

moment changed my life so I started

moment changed my life so I started doing things that I had never done

doing things that I had never done

doing things that I had never done before like getting on a commune this is

before like getting on a commune this is

before like getting on a commune this is one of the most meditative experiences

one of the most meditative experiences

one of the most meditative experiences my entire life being in a canoe or a

my entire life being in a canoe or a

my entire life being in a canoe or a kayak and I never knew that about myself

kayak and I never knew that about myself

kayak and I never knew that about myself which mean that I didn’t really even

which mean that I didn’t really even

which mean that I didn’t really even know my true self

know my true self

know my true self oh I was a product of what I thought I

oh I was a product of what I thought I

oh I was a product of what I thought I was supposed to be doing so I pushed

was supposed to be doing so I pushed

was supposed to be doing so I pushed further and I was told not to go to the

further and I was told not to go to the

further and I was told not to go to the ice cave because it wasn’t accessible

ice cave because it wasn’t accessible

ice cave because it wasn’t accessible and while I don’t like not listening to

and while I don’t like not listening to

and while I don’t like not listening to people I pushed on anyways I took a

people I pushed on anyways I took a

people I pushed on anyways I took a calculated risk and I saw the first-ever

calculated risk and I saw the first-ever

calculated risk and I saw the first-ever ice cave that I’ve ever seen

ice cave that I’ve ever seen

ice cave that I’ve ever seen now that ice cave is actually isn’t

now that ice cave is actually isn’t

now that ice cave is actually isn’t there

there

there it’s the Athabasca ice cave at the toe

it’s the Athabasca ice cave at the toe

it’s the Athabasca ice cave at the toe of the glacier and it collapsed in

of the glacier and it collapsed in

of the glacier and it collapsed in October so I pushed on I overcame my

October so I pushed on I overcame my

October so I pushed on I overcame my fear and I had an opportunity to see

fear and I had an opportunity to see

fear and I had an opportunity to see something like this so at this point I’m

something like this so at this point I’m

something like this so at this point I’m still addicted and I’m addicted to

still addicted and I’m addicted to

still addicted and I’m addicted to nature and that whole experience has

nature and that whole experience has

nature and that whole experience has shaped me changed my life and I no

shaped me changed my life and I no

shaped me changed my life and I no longer need to escape or run away I’m

longer need to escape or run away I’m

longer need to escape or run away I’m running towards a life of discovery so

over the last couple of years there are

over the last couple of years there are a few things that stand out in my mind

a few things that stand out in my mind

a few things that stand out in my mind as to how you can slay your addictions

as to how you can slay your addictions

as to how you can slay your addictions to nature with nature

to nature with nature

to nature with nature the first one is action and you know

the first one is action and you know

the first one is action and you know I’ve watched a secret right have you

I’ve watched a secret right have you

I’ve watched a secret right have you guys seen the secret project positive

guys seen the secret project positive

guys seen the secret project positive set intentions that’s all true but

set intentions that’s all true but

set intentions that’s all true but without action you’re not gonna wake up

without action you’re not gonna wake up

without action you’re not gonna wake up being any different it’s just your

being any different it’s just your

being any different it’s just your thoughts that are changing not your

thoughts that are changing not your

thoughts that are changing not your behavior so I took action to change my

behavior so I took action to change my

behavior so I took action to change my life I don’t know what compelled me to

life I don’t know what compelled me to

life I don’t know what compelled me to go into nature that very first day but I

go into nature that very first day but I

go into nature that very first day but I followed it and I went after it the

followed it and I went after it the

followed it and I went after it the second thing is courage did you know

second thing is courage did you know

second thing is courage did you know that we’re all courageous in this room

that we’re all courageous in this room

that we’re all courageous in this room if you don’t think your crazy is because

if you don’t think your crazy is because

if you don’t think your crazy is because you’ve been taught that you haven’t been

you’ve been taught that you haven’t been

you’ve been taught that you haven’t been just like we’re all absolutely creative

just like we’re all absolutely creative

just like we’re all absolutely creative but maybe if I asked you guys if you

but maybe if I asked you guys if you

but maybe if I asked you guys if you were creative you tell me you’re type A

were creative you tell me you’re type A

were creative you tell me you’re type A or something or type whatever you’re

or something or type whatever you’re

or something or type whatever you’re gonna type whatever your type yourself I

gonna type whatever your type yourself I

gonna type whatever your type yourself I promised you the year you have creative

promised you the year you have creative

promised you the year you have creative expect to give and to share

expect to give and to share

expect to give and to share and same with courage encourages a

and same with courage encourages a

and same with courage encourages a little bit of a different one you kind

little bit of a different one you kind

little bit of a different one you kind of have to push past your boundaries and

of have to push past your boundaries and

of have to push past your boundaries and get out of that comfort zone that we’ve

get out of that comfort zone that we’ve

get out of that comfort zone that we’ve all been taught to hang out in once you

all been taught to hang out in once you

all been taught to hang out in once you push back that back past that you’ll

push back that back past that you’ll

push back that back past that you’ll find your courage the last thing is you

find your courage the last thing is you

find your courage the last thing is you need to start celebrating relentlessness

need to start celebrating relentlessness

need to start celebrating relentlessness don’t just go half-assed with it take it

don’t just go half-assed with it take it

don’t just go half-assed with it take it to they’re very very limit and only then

to they’re very very limit and only then

to they’re very very limit and only then can you start discovering your true self

can you start discovering your true self

can you start discovering your true self so a couple years later here’s where I

so a couple years later here’s where I

so a couple years later here’s where I am this time I’m in the clouds and

am this time I’m in the clouds and

am this time I’m in the clouds and looking down instead of looking up so do

looking down instead of looking up so do

looking down instead of looking up so do you know what the best part of all this

you know what the best part of all this

you know what the best part of all this stuff is it’s knowing that you have the

stuff is it’s knowing that you have the

stuff is it’s knowing that you have the courage the grit and the resiliency

courage the grit and the resiliency

courage the grit and the resiliency whether you know it or not to take

whether you know it or not to take

whether you know it or not to take charge my real goal from this talk is to

charge my real goal from this talk is to

charge my real goal from this talk is to tell you that you don’t have to wait for

tell you that you don’t have to wait for

tell you that you don’t have to wait for your rock bottom my rock bottom was

your rock bottom my rock bottom was

your rock bottom my rock bottom was looking at the clouds yours doesn’t have

looking at the clouds yours doesn’t have

looking at the clouds yours doesn’t have to be that no matter what your addiction

to be that no matter what your addiction

to be that no matter what your addiction is you have the power to change your

is you have the power to change your

is you have the power to change your life other people’s lives and you have

life other people’s lives and you have

life other people’s lives and you have the power to discover your true self

the power to discover your true self

the power to discover your true self destroy what destroys you thank you

destroy what destroys you thank you

destroy what destroys you thank you [Applause]