Into The Woods

For much of my life, I have had the desire to go into the woods.  To get away from the socialized way of life, the naysayers, the controls, the unnecessary busyness.  I have that desire now.  I find myself disappointed with local environmental non-profits - disappointed beyond belief.  This is a good place to begin this note to you.

I am disappointed because they are often outlive, barely, I might add, their so-called leadership.  I see them as the band of merry players.  Trying to gather the folks from the 60's, that decade of activism.  The so-called 'leadership' has seen its day.  Sadly, they don't retire, don't move to a position more suited to them.  They just go on.  And on.  With fewer and fewer members.  I am sad because these are very good people.  And sad, because they simply cannot get out of their own way.

In them, I see myself.  Of course I do.  How could I not?  We all trample ourselves down this path we call life.  We are the "poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and are heard no more." Apologies to the Bard of Avon (Shakespeare) who said it far better than I.

Not too long ago, I listened to a friend gripe about their life.  About the people who were not what they wanted them to be.  The person reminded me of another long ago in my life.  Always looking for what wasn't right.  "I don't like people," they would say.

People are like nature.  Striving to reach the sunlight, striving to be nurtured.  To matter.  Strutting their hour on the stage.  Can we not grant them love and compassion?

My sustenance is always in the woods.  Always by water.  With close friends.  With myself.  I have the desire to go deeper into the woods.  Deeper into myself.  For I, only I, am the cure.  Forever and always.

Into the woods.