Robert Hamburger: Finding Kindness in Nature and Healing

Robert Hamburger’s story is one of transformation shaped by resilience, wilderness, and a lifelong search for meaning. Born in suburban Detroit, Robert’s life shifted dramatically after the loss of his father when he was just seven. “I became a philosopher at seven,” he shared, describing how early tragedy forced him to ask questions most children never face. Decades later, he left “the rat race and moved to the mountains,” seeking healing and reconnection with nature.

For 25 years, Robert designed and built mountain cabins across Colorado, New Mexico, and New York. He would design a cabin, live in it, sell it, and begin again—crafting a life of independence and intentional simplicity. Today, he lives in a remote Colorado town of just 80 people. “I see a moose most every day out here,” he said, surrounded by wilderness where peace and quiet are his constant companions.

Kindness, for Robert, is a quiet, deliberate practice. He shared how, in 2016, he made a personal rule to stop calling people names, even in private moments. “I am endeavoring to walk into the world with kindness.” Healing has been a lifelong journey for Robert. After years of therapy, he found that moving to the mountains allowed him to reclaim the parts of himself disrupted by childhood loss. “I literally said, I’m going to make myself my own science experiment—what happens if this being is fully connected to its surroundings? What happens to this being, this soul, if we're connected to all things, especially its most immediate surroundings? And my most immediate surroundings are peace and tranquility—no noise, no horns, no traffic lights, no box stores, no car dealers, no nothing except these guys.” He points to a photo of a moose. That experiment evolved into a way of life and a novel-in-progress.

Robert’s current work includes drumming therapy, using rhythmic beats to help people access emotional insight. He views kindness both outward and inward. He believes that true kindness starts with healing and balance.

“I'm not in control of putting a smile on someone else's face, but I’m endeavoring to do so nonetheless.”

Robert’s journey of kindness begins within. It is refraining from anger, healing old wounds, and finding peace in nature. From that place, it can ripple outward to others, one smile at a time. Keep an eye out for more interviews.