Note: I originally wrote this article more than 5 years ago, inspired by a lifetime of recprical, tidal suffering and deliverance via triumph & God’s grace. In many ways it has served as prophecy. I could not have known at that time, what the tragedy of exsistence had in store for me however, I thank God I was prepared for it; to a certain degree. Do not curse your suffering, my friends. Applaud it and, when you’ve triumphed over it, applaud yourself. I’ll be there, cheering with you.

“The meaning of life is NOT to be happy.”

Over the rim of a Scaly Designs, German Brown patterned, airbrushed whiskey tumbler you might ask, “Do you believe the meaning of life is to be happy?”

“Nah, I don’t think so.” I would suggest.

“Well then, what is?” You would protest.

“Suffering.” I would add, simply.

You might be appalled by this. Quizzical, you would burn through to the back of my eyes with an assumptive stare; demanding an explanation.

“I think happiness itself is a consequence of meaning,” I’d begin. “To imply that we humans should pursue happiness is to negate the inevitable and unavoidable truth of suffering. If we were to simply attempt to satisfy all the potential for the suffering we may face in our lives with instant, insignificant gratifications or haphazard mitigations, we would find ourselves weak and wanting. 

To escape boredom we would alleviate ourselves of purpose. What do you think that would look like? Well, I’ll venture as far to assume it would look something like sitting on the couch, high or drunk, playing video games or watching tired sitcoms. Or, for another example, to escape pain, we might not manage our ability to endure or overcome. What do you think that would look like? Anecdotally, I assume it wouldn’t look very good. Maybe we drown ourselves in opioids and neuroinhibitors, blissfully allowing the world to ooze by as we perceived the state of our own being from a nihilistic chasm. Or, maybe we just succumb to the pain, and take a bow as we exit the world. Either way, it’s not a winning formula to hide from the suffering. 

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Sure, I get the sentiment. Burning out on the couch, sustaining a comfortable position and perpetually pushing the euphoric boundaries of psychomotor inhibitors; those things sound like they could be pleasurable but unfortunately, happiness doesn’t come from pleasure either. In fact, in trade for very little and short term benefits, pleasure is often the origin of our suffering. Perpetual, chronically uninterrupted pleasure and comfort, I would argue, seem to be slow but absolute segues to death and misery. Suffering can’t be avoided. It will come. At some point, nothing will entertain you and you will be bored. At some point, no amount of substance will satisfy your tolerance and you will hurt. 

The same is true for every other imaginable source of suffering. At some point it will come to your door like the Big-Bad-Wolf, and it will blow down your house of straw. The house you built with pleasure and negations and complacency. There is no escaping suffering. There is only the act of avoiding it until it has you cornered; alone, weak and, scared. Or, if you choose, there’s an alternative. You can embrace the suffering on your own terms. You can hurt a little every day for example, to avoid the impact of hurt when it collides with your world circumstantially.”

“Wait,” you might push back. “Are you suggesting people hurt themselves every day?”

“In a crude way of putting it; yes, I am.” I would clarify. “Here’s an example: if you walk long(ish) distances every day, you are familiar to the struggle of walking. You’ve sweat, and been sore. The muscles in your feet and legs are strong for it. You would be ready to walk right this very moment, if you needed to. So, say your car runs dry of fuel on a rural road. You’re stuck walking, right?”

“Right,” you’d entertain.

“So, the walk back to town likely wouldn’t be so hard on you. You’ve walked much and are used to it but, imagine the couch potato who walks nowhere. His legs and feet have weakened, his endurance is marginal and, his abilities to withstand the elements have diminished. What would a hike look like to him? The long, hard walk to town might even kill him, if at the very least, it doesn’t leave his feet blistered and joints sore. That’s life. That scenario, in a microcosm, is the human experience. All of it. Life is choosing to take your suffering in increments and by choice or, to grow weaker every day until the inevitable suffering comes to knock you on your ass.”

“So then,” you would likely challenge, “where does happiness come from?

To this I would answer, “As happiness is a byproduct of purpose and, purpose derives from suffering, I would suggest that happiness comes from suffering. It is suffering that gives us purpose, after all. The struggle that came from working with our hands, lead to somebody’s purpose to develop tools. The struggle of feeding a society by means of hunting and gathering is what gave someone purpose to innovate the agricultural process. It is the suffering; the wolves that sit at my door, that grants me the most purpose and, it is fighting those wolves back to protect my people which provides my life with meaning. Meaning and happiness are synonymous. I am meant to provide bread for the table where my family gathers. I am meant to tend to the ground on which my home sits, where my family lays to rest at night. I am meant to face the wolves and, occasionally, sharpen my blade against their hides. I am meant to teach my son these same values and, to lead by example. Rising to these challenges, and the act of overcoming them, is where true and lasting happiness comes from. It is born in struggle and raised in triumph. Happiness cannot not be bought or placated with superfluous materials. It can’t be concocted in some chemical cauldron. It’s not at the bottom of a bottle or in some stranger’s bed. Happiness is at the end of a long road or atop a tall mountain. It’s in the silence that resonates after a hard fight. Happiness is earned. It lies, covered in a thin layer of dust, just beyond what we believe our reach to be. We aren’t born knowing what it feels like. It’s foreign to us until we push ourselves harder and stretch oursleve further than we’ve ever done so before. We only feel that happiness once we’ve exhausted ourselves to clench it.”

Writing my idealisms and intoxicated nonsense off as humor, you might see through the veneer of my carefully articulated words, as I struggle to rest my tired legs by kicking them up on the rocks which border our camp fire. Just to the right of them sits my Badlands pack, resembling a steroid laced porcupine, while the multiple tines of elk and deer antler protrude toward the sky from their paracorded positions in the pack’s cradle. Convinced you could antagonize my whiskey fueled, exhausted soap-box-sermon into a contradictory feedback loop, you might challenge the point. With tired and sore, worn out legs of your own, you might push back against my suggestion that the pain May 1^st always brings as we walk miles to shake the winter off of our bodies somehow equates to happiness.

“Well,” I’d hear you ask, “Are you happy now?”

Examining my world around me while breathing in the fresh air and watching the fiery, mid-Spring sunset just beyond the Wyoming Range, I’d lift my tumbler and await yours to meet it over the fold out camp table between our chairs.

“Can’t you see my struggle?” I’d proclaim with a fatigued but unvanquished grin on my face. “I’m farting rainbows over here.” 

Author’s Note:

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this story and all the content associated with it. As an avid sportsman, I hope that this tale inspires you to get outside to enjoy the wild with the ones you love most. I write these stories as a supplement to my lifestyle as a sportsman and guide, and with them comes a certain accountability. The details of my stories are purely based on my recollection alone and in no particular way do they reflect a chronologically factual, indisputable timeline of events. They are in no way intended for official use or as a reference for official purposes. These are simply tall tales meant to entertain the tired mind; best served with a clear evening, a warm fire and, a strong whiskey.

All the photos and content featured in my tall tales are my own, unless expressly cited otherwise, and the unauthorized use or reproduction of them is strictly prohibited. That’s all for now, my friends. If you enjoyed this content and would like to see more like it, I can be found on Instagram by searching “Authentically Wild Out West” and on YouTube by searching the same phrase. Until the next campfire, stay safe out there and look after each other.

On another quick note: I’ve launched a new publication on Substack, specifically to showcase my serialized fiction and poetry! 

I hope you’ll join me there! Follow THIS LINK to have a look. 

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ADVENTURE UPDATE: Para, Brazil – Amazon Jungle 2026 is a GO!

Adventure into the Jungle with me in September of 2026! I’m taking eight intrepid souls along with me as I fly into the heart of the Amazon jungle to pursue Surubi (Tiger Striped Catfish), Payara (Cachorra), Trairao (Giant Wolf Fish) and, Tucanare (Melaniae Peacock Bass) in crystal clear pocket water. I’ve partnered with Angling Frontiers to develop this once-in-a-lifetime excursion into the headwaters region of the Xingu river basin. This majestic arena has been closed to human presence for nearly 30 years – designated as a conservation district – however, it was just opened exclusively to my partners for guiding operations in the 2026 season. Don’t miss your opportnity to experience one of the last truly wild places on earth, where fish and wildlife have never seen a human. Spots are VERY limited so, reach out to me with any questions of to book! I’m looking forward to sharing in this adventure with you.

I’m going to be hosting even more trips, in more exotic and wild places in the future! Subscribe to my newsletter to stay updated on trip info as it becomes available!

Come Fish & Hunt in Wyoming With Me!

If you’ve been reading my tall tales and outdoor articles for a while, you have probably recognized that much of my writings revolve around anecdotes. I live these stories, here in one of the last truly wild places on Earth and now as a full-time guide, I’d like to extend an invitation to you: 

Come experience this prestigious place with me. 

You can do this by reaching out to Wyoming Fishing Company and exploring the many options we have available to accommodate your next fishing, waterfowl, upland bird, small game, or predator hunting adventure. We can facilitate small & large groups alike or offer a one-on-one guided experience. Come make some memories this season! I’m already looking forward to adventuring with you.

Fly Fishing, Conventional Fishing, Trolling Lakes, Waterfowl Field Hunts, Floating Blind Diver Duck Hunts, Rodent Fly Night Fishing, Coyote Hunts, Pheasant Hunts, Private Water Walk & Wade Trips, Ice Fishing… we are constantly adding new adventures to our Western Wyoming catalog so subscribe to my mailing list to stay updated on seasons and conditions!

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Have you registered for the 2026 SW WYO SUMMIT SLAM YET?

Apen Mountain, Wilkins Peak, & White Mountain. Can you conquer them all? My friends at Whiskey Goats host this incredibly fun opportunity to get your legs moving and experience some of Southwest Wyoming’s high desert beauty with a bit of an incentive. Firstly, head to the official Whiskey Goats website and use the “Summit Slam” tab to register for the 2026 season. Review all the helpful information and trail maps they’ve provided and be sure to stop into their store in downtown Rock Springs to gear up before heading out. Hit the trail and snap some photos of your adventure! You can share them via their Facebook group or Email them directly to the Whiskey Goats team. In exchange, you’ll recieve a FREE Summit Slam pin and stickers! Be sure to tell them Kurt sent you!

My Family and I will be knocking the winter layers off by participating in this event in 2026. Care to join us? I’ll send out an update prior to our trips & I’ll be sure to share our adventures here so subscribe below to keep in touch!

If you’re coming out to fish or hunt, don’t forget your license and stamp!

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