Johan and Brad: A journey of solitude and connection in the Alps

A Moment in the Alps with Brad – Shared by Johan from Norway

At Hermity, we’re honored to share Johan’s heartfelt story of solitude, connection, and discovery in the French Alps. Accompanied by his loyal dog, Brad, Johan takes us on a journey through a late spring landscape, where the snow has just melted, and nature awakens.

Through Brad’s presence, Johan reflects on the beauty of living in the moment—a lesson his canine companion teaches with effortless grace. Together, they explore the simplicity of life in the mountains, where every scent, sound, and sight becomes an adventure, reminding us of the childlike wonder we often leave behind.

Johan’s story reminds us that solitude doesn’t have to mean loneliness; it can be enriched by the silent, meaningful companionship of an animal. We thank Johan for this moving glimpse into his world and for inviting us to reconsider how we connect—with nature, with ourselves, and with those we hold dear, even our four-legged friends.

A Spring in the Alps with Brad

It was a late spring, just after the snow had melted. The mountains of the French Alps were awakening under a sky of almost unreal clarity. I had come in search of solitude—the kind of silence that forces you to slow down and breathe differently. But I wasn’t truly alone. Brad, my faithful shepherd, was with me.

Brad is more than just a dog. He’s a presence, an ally. One of those companions who understands you without words, walking by your side as if he knows exactly what you need.

We climbed, taking our time. Each day was an invitation to live differently. The torrents roared with the force of melting snow, the first flowers timidly pierced through the earth, and the air was heavy with the scent of renewal. Brad ran ahead of me, occasionally stopping to lift his head and sniff the air, as if he were experiencing every moment with an intensity I envied.

The present moment, seen through Brad

What I came to understand, thanks to Brad, is the remarkable ability animals have to fully inhabit the present moment. He doesn’t think about the climb ahead or the day’s fatigue. He doesn’t search for what lies beyond. He just lives. Every scent, every breath of wind, every rustle in the grass is an adventure. It’s a childlike curiosity, that carefree innocence we’ve all had at one time and spend our lives trying to reclaim.

I began to see him differently—not just as a companion on the journey, but as a guide. Brad was teaching me without trying, without effort. He was showing me how to slow down, how to notice details I had long stopped seeing.

Solitude as a shared experience

One evening, as the sun lit the mountain peaks on fire and the day slowly faded, we sat on a ridge. The sky was streaked with gold and pink, and Brad, sitting by my side, seemed just as absorbed by the spectacle as I was. I spoke to him softly, almost instinctively, as if to an old friend. He listened, silent, his ears pointed toward me.

What I felt in that moment is hard to describe. It wasn’t an empty solitude, but a full one, enriched by his presence. We were there together, in a shared silence, connected in a way that words could barely express.

A different kind of disconnection

I write these lines for Hermity because I believe there is something profoundly valuable in experiencing moments like these with an animal. It’s a form of disconnection you can’t find anywhere else. Being in nature, far from the noise of the world, and sharing that simplicity with a companion who asks for nothing more than to be there.

If you have a dog, or any other companion, I invite you to take a journey with them. It doesn’t have to be a grand adventure. A walk, a night under the stars, a morning on a forgotten trail—it’s enough. Let them show you how to live fully, how to rediscover that lightness we’ve forgotten, caught up in the chaos of everyday life.

Brad gave me more than a spring in the Alps. He gave me a lesson. A lesson in presence, simplicity, and sharing.

And you? When will you take your companion to discover another way of being, together, in the moment?