What ‘Alone’ Taught Me About Survival, Grit, and Life Beyond Modernity

Recently, I’ve been binge-watching Alone from the History Channel, a show where ten survival experts are dropped into the wilderness, each entirely on their own, with no camera crew or backup. Their only task? To survive as long as possible. The last one standing wins.

Watching Alone has stirred something deep within me. The raw beauty of nature paired with its unforgiving terror makes the show a perfect encapsulation of the human condition. In many ways, it strips back the layers of modernity we’re so accustomed to, revealing the primal, unfiltered reality that we are often too distracted to notice. And, oddly enough, this wilderness survival show has provided some striking insights not only about nature but about life itself.

Nature: Beautiful, Yet Unforgiving

The wilderness is indifferent. It’s neither for us nor against us - it just is. One moment it will provide you with breathtaking sunsets and moments of calm serenity, the next it will batter you with storms and frigid temperatures. The show reminds me how little control we have over nature, but also how little we need to live in it. The difference between those who survive and those who fail is not always in their skill but in their mindset. Alone shows me the value of adaptability, the importance of being grounded in reality, and the foolishness of clinging to a plan when the environment demands a new one.

The Futility of Fussiness

This show has also been a reminder that in the end, most of our fussiness and comforts are futile. After a few days in the wild, the contestants on Alone stop worrying about how they look or what they’re eating (assuming they’re eating at all). It’s a realisation that our modern need for convenience and perfection is ultimately inconsequential. When you’re alone in the wilderness, stripped of the conveniences of modern life, it’s about necessity, not luxury. There’s something freeing in that simplicity. It’s a reminder to let go of the small things that don’t matter and focus on what truly does.

The Importance of Family and Community

What struck me most is that no matter how well someone does in the wild, loneliness often becomes their undoing. Contestants - many of whom are seasoned survival experts - tap out not because they are out of food or can’t light a fire, but because they miss their family. They yearn for the simple comfort of being around those they love. Watching this, I was reminded of just how much we are, at our core, social creatures. We survive and thrive together. No matter how strong or self-sufficient we think we are, our connections with others are what keep us grounded.

I first read the SAS Survival Guide at eight years old, and I’ve been obsessed with the idea of survival ever since. The guide spoke to my childhood fascination with bushcraft, but Alone has brought that childhood interest back into sharper focus. It’s not just about survival skills - it’s about survival with purpose, which includes the people closest to us.

The Meaning of Grit

The biggest takeaway from Alone is grit. It’s a raw reminder of just how far the human spirit can stretch when tested. When food is scarce, when the cold bites, when isolation gnaws at your psyche, it’s grit that determines who stays and who goes. Grit, in this sense, is about more than just enduring discomfort - it’s about enduring with purpose. The best survivalists understand this. They have an inner resolve that powers them through the darkest moments, pushing them to keep going long after most would have given up.

And isn’t that a lesson for all of us? In business, in life, in the challenges we face every day, it’s grit that will take us further than skill or luck ever could.

Back to Nature

There’s something appealing about stepping away from the noise and complexities of the world and getting back to the basics. To focus on what truly matters and to build strength not just of body, but of mind and spirit.

Alone reminds me that no matter how far we’ve come in modern life, there is still value in the simple, primal lessons that nature teaches us. Grit, community, and clarity of purpose - these are the real survival skills.

Let’s not forget them.

What about you? What lessons have you learned from stepping outside your comfort zone, whether in nature or in life?