At a certain point, when the pressure and stress of daily life get to be a little too much, we all fantasize about escaping to the woods and hanging out in a cozy little cave for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, there also inevitably comes a time when people start wondering where we ran off to. Cue the endless search parties made up of concerned family/friends/satyrs. You’re bound to be discovered sooner rather than later and dragged back to your humdrum life of work/academia/battling mythological monsters.

One must wonder how Pan, the lost god of the wild, was able to stay hidden from his fellow satyrs and the Council of Cloven Elders for 2,000 years. Perhaps if we got to know him a little better, we could better understand how he was able to stay off the grid for as long as he did. But don’t expect it to be easy to follow in his hoofsteps. Mastering the art of woodland magic takes a lifetime of practice, even for those who already possess the horns of a goat.

Maybe the real lessons we can learn from Pan would be put to better use outside of our cozy little caves anyway. After all, what better way to honor his eternal memory?

Lesson One: Understand the Value of Loyalty

We can guess what you’re thinking: If Pan was so loyal to his fellow gods and satyrs, why did he abandon them? Look, we’re not here to litigate events that occurred before the invention of indoor plumbing. Regardless of whether you think Pan was justified in faking his death and turning his back on his people, you have to admire the fact that his loyalty to all creatures, big or small, living or extinct, never wavered throughout his long life.

Sure, Pan could have stuck with his fellow gods, with their constant bickering and familial drama. Or he could have been devoted to the satyrs he viewed as his children, even though he knew that they would better flourish and grow in his absence. But Pan’s undying dedication was reserved to the wild from which he drew his life’s purpose—even as he watched that same wild become tamer with each passing year.

And perhaps most impressively, not once did he rent out his cave as an Airbnb! Now, that’s commitment.

Lesson Two: Temper Your Talent with Humility

We hate to say it, but if you were never able to hear a live performance of Pan playing his reed pipes, you missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So did we. As well as everyone else we know.

For the past 2,000 years, Pan played exclusively to an audience of flora and fauna. Hard to find many Pan Stans these days, but ask any Greek god and they will tell you that Pan’s musical talent rivaled and perhaps even surpassed Apollo’s (just don’t tell him we said that). And did Pan ever try to cash in on his gift? Not even once. You can’t find his discography anywhere online.

People say that true talent lies in obscurity. In other words, if you’ve got it, you don’t have to flaunt it. Unless you want to, of course. But if you have to betray your principles or compromise your joy in order to share your ability with the world, maybe you should simply leave your song to the birds.

Lesson Three: There Is Power in Pacifism

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the phrase Greek god? If you’re anything like us, you immediately imagine scenes of war, destruction, and lousy parenting. But that might be because we’re predisposed to fear the wrath of folks like Zeus, Ares, and Athena.

Pan was one of the few Greek gods who never resorted to violence to solve his problems. Haters will tell you that this was because he couldn’t hold his own in a fight against the Titans and their pet dragons. But the truth is, Pan understood that the most effective way to settle a conflict is with your voice, not your fists. Specifically, if your voice can produce an ear-splitting panic cry, that will alert a bigger and more powerful god to come and rescue you.

Lesson Four: Respect the Wild, Both Outside and Within

Perhaps a satyr’s aversion to violence comes from the knowledge that most battles aren’t worth fighting. Pan knew that the most important struggle was the one to protect the planet from those who would harm it for profit and convenience. Pan did his part to live in harmony with nature, rather than seeking to control it, but not even he could prevent the environmental degradation he witnessed in his final years.

Admittedly, he did spend most of his time in a cave. Yet that cave was home to several extinct animals that, at the very least, got to enjoy a few more trips around the sun.

Despite Pan’s relative inactivity during his last 2,000 years, memories of him still inspired satyrs the world over. And his timeless philosophy will continue to inform their behavior for years to come.

Another characteristic of Pan that set him apart from his fellow gods? He always knew he would eventually have to step aside and let a new generation of horned heroes take over and fill his hooves.

Lesson Five: Know When It’s Time to Let Go

So, even if it takes you thousands of years to finally kick the bucket, if you emulate Pan, you can rest easy knowing that the lessons you imparted and the impact you made on your community will last long after you’re gone . . . or even while you’re still around, if you fake your death like good old Pan did.

Saying goodbye to life can be scary. Especially if the person you chose to inherit your legacy seems like a clumsy (albeit big-hearted) mess. You need to trust that they will keep the torch lit and more importantly, forge their own path ahead and usher in a new age of peace and prosperity for all creatures across this great, big, beautiful planet.

As long as they can overcome their crippling fear of bunny rabbits first.