"Everyone is an outdoor person, we just spend too much time indoors"
Rocco Stallvord, 47, human being and owner of OFFFFF, facilitator and strategist
Rocco Stallvord (47) describes himself as a human being first, and then as the owner of OFFFFF, a facilitator and strategist. He has a simple belief that guides much of his work:
‘“Everyone is an outdoor person. We just spend far too much time indoors.”’
It’s something he sees confirmed every time he takes a group outside. People begin to relax. The pace slows down. Conversations become easier, and creativity starts to flow more naturally. “‘Almost everyone says the same thing afterwards,”’ Rocco says. “‘I should do this more often. I need to spend more time outside.’”
One experience stands out in particular. During a mini vision quest, participants spent three hours sitting alone in nature. There were no tasks, no discussions and no distractions. Just time to be with themselves and their surroundings. “‘What happened in those three hours was incredible,”’ he recalls. “‘So much emotion surfaced. It was such a simple exercise, but incredibly powerful.”’
For Rocco, nature offers something that is increasingly difficult to find in everyday life: space. Space to breathe, think and simply be. Combined with fresh air and a sense of ease, it creates conditions that are hard to replicate indoors. “‘We live in a world full of distractions and screens. Finding real calm has become harder than ever. Nature gives us access to that calm, and the earlier you learn how to find it, the more it benefits you throughout your life.”’
One of his favourite activities is also one of the simplest: spending time in complete silence. “Most people never do that,” he says. “But when you’re outside, silence feels different. You notice more. You experience more. Your thoughts are free to wander for a while. It’s wonderful.” That ability to create space is also why Rocco believes nature teaches us so much about ourselves. Two people can sit in exactly the same place and come away with entirely different experiences.
“‘What you notice says something about who you are,”’ he says. For him, nature isn’t just a setting. It’s a mirror. So get out there and find that reflection!
Check Rocco’s website here: