There is something unique about the feeling of a campfire. If I were asked what it was about them then I would struggle to identify it. Maybe it's the fire's natural warmth, the gentle crackling of the wood or coal, or the flickering of the flames that seem to dance and then disappear with no other concern. However, over my lifetime I have come to develop the belief that campfires provide us with a unique situation, hence this blog.
Campfires have existed in some form for about a quarter of all human existence. Scientists have been able to date campfires back roughly 1.5 million years by analysing burnt antelope bones that were found in Swartkrans, South Africa. These fires were thought to have existed even before humans had the ability to create fire; according to palaeontologist, Bob Brain, and chemist, Anne Skinner, they were most likely "ignited by lightning and carried by hand to the mouth of the cave". While this is definitely an interesting (and mostly useless fact) it is the impact of campfires that I wish to discuss further.
These campfires extended our daylight into the once dark night, but there is something about this lengthened daytime that has us indulging in more relaxed conversation and of course, story-telling! A study by Polly W. Wiessner established that there are major differences between conversations that take place during the day and night. Their findings clearly depict that stories make up a significantly larger percentage of conversations during the night-time (81%) than they do during the daytime (6%). We talk less about the practicalities and stresses of living and instead communicate to one another in a more relaxed and authentic way. I have already posted a blog giving my opinion on why stories are important, but the specific act of sitting around a campfire holds an even higher importance to me, some of my closest friendships have grown in the radiance of a campfire.
As the cold months begin to approach I find myself putting on the fire in my living room more often. It’s not a real fire; instead it is just a heater with a screen that shows a digital fire. This “fake fire” has never had the same impact on me as the real thing, yet it does lead me to compare it to the fires that I have built during my life; for barbecues, sitting outside late at night, or ones built while camping. These real fires seem much more profound, but why? The heat from the fire is the same. The flames dance and the noise of crackling is present, but why does it not have the same impact? Why does this digital screen not hold my attention as well as the real thing?
First of all, fires require attention, not a lot of attention, but just enough as they can be dangerous and must be tended to occasionally so that they don’t go out. You are able to do other things while a fire is burning, but your attention must be easily shifted in case something changes and requires intervention. Despite a need for awareness there are always extended periods where the fire burns without remedy and this is where some of the greatest conversations can happen. When I put on this “fake fire” there are normally distractions that are present, reading or watching television, but when I'm outside with a fire I am always surrounded by people I love. With no distractions and good company, late night conversations, as intuition, experience and science suggest, take on a more intimate feel. Conversations flow into avenues you might not have expected, we learn more about those closest to us and sometimes even ourselves, it gives us an opportunity to open up about things, but most of all it strengthens the bonds between you and whoever is around that fire.
Yet like I said previously, it is winter at the time of me writing this and that means I doubt that any of us will be having barbecues or sitting outside much, because it is too cold, yet technological advancements mean that we no longer have to depend on these fires to extend our daylight into night. Electricity provides us with some form of light even long after a fire would have burnt out and it requires no such tending as a fire would. Doing things inside don’t always produce the same experience but I think this is because of the distractions that I mentioned before. When we are indoors we get caught up in our lives and move from one task to another as if we were machines with no thought of our own and while these meaningful conversations may occur when you are sat having a glass of wine (or whatever), eating dinner or watching television, they never seem to hold up to the weight of the same conversations that happen around a campfire, but they can.
Again, now, as I did in my last blog, I come to my point. We have moved away from the need for campfires as a necessity and at times they may not even seem worth it. Yet, a campfire doesn’t have to be a campfire... By this I mean you could be anywhere and still replicate the “campfire experience”; all it requires is good company, no distractions and the freedom to live in the moment. I know that for some reason people tend to find this easier sitting around a campfire (maybe it brings us away from our busy lives), but as I say; it could happen anywhere. Instead of moving through your life like a robot, just stop and take a moment; don’t get up straight after everyone has finished their meals, don't order that next round of drinks immediately, don’t leave as soon as the show or film is finished, etc.
I’m not saying that every time you get a moment free that you should sit down and try and have a deep conversation because it wouldn’t work, it would be awkward, and even if it did always work you'd lose so much sleep and never get anything done. I’m saying be aware of these fleeting moments because they can be lost so quickly, be aware of them when they come, be aware like you would when watching a campfire!
The World is Weird people, but Life was made for Living!
See you when I’m looking at you,
with Love Tom
Comments