What can I say about classes? They ROCK man. I thought I was going to learn about just how to see the footprints, plants, and animals.. But what I have been learning is how to really see the footprints, plants and animals and much much more. We are learning to see how the animals and plants move.. how they eat.. how they adapt to the environment.. how they can change the environment for better or worse and how we as humans can fit in with the natural rhythms of this earth we all call home.
I never thought about how I move in the natural world until I started listening to an audio collection of lectures by Jon Young called "Seeing Through Native Eyes" and "Advanced Bird Language". I started listening to these because it was on our recommended reading list or Not required books but ones you should get if you can. I listened to these audio cd's before I left for Alderleaf Wilderness College in July 2011. These audio cd's allowed me to use my ears to listen to the message that was in the lecture and let me create what I herd into my own vision or day dream of what was happening, much like imagining things when you read a book.
I decided to try out some of the things Jon was mentioning in his lectures. So... I walked through the woods like I normally would... loud and noisy and flailing around and kicking over rocks and just being a typical person in the woods. Then...I sat down and didn't move from the spot I stopped and just closed my eyes and listened.... and listened... and finally I started to hear slight bird chirps in the distance. Louder and louder the chirps became. After about 30 minutes and me about to fall asleep I slowly opened my eyes and could see small brown birds and chickadees about 10 feet from me just as busy as can be. Squirrels that were silent were close to me know and just overhead instead of fleeing through the tree tops and barking out my place in the woods for all to see. When I realized that I was the one who interrupted their baseline state or harmony in nature... it really made me think about how we all misunderstand nature and or don't know anything about the whole system or cycle of life.
So, on this Journey Across The U.S. my ultimate goal is still not known but, I can tell with every passing day that the choice I made to come across the U.S. to attend Alderleaf Wilderness College was the best decision for myself. I really do enjoy learning about the natural world and all its systems and different habitats and really just everything that works together... the Flow and rhythms in baseline state. I have noticed a great change in my thought process. Instead of running through the woods... I tend to Fox walk or walk without making a large disruption in the forests. I consider the plants and animals more and the repercussions of my actions when I am being negligent in the their home. I now consider other living things more than just all about me me me. I put myself in their shoes and ask myself how would I feel if someone __________, and you can fill in the blank.
I know I am also documenting the mental awareness and change that I am going to go through but, most people don't realize they change a lot, maybe subtle things but not drastic. I have noticed a ton of personal growth in myself and I am very proud to say that I am taking charge of my life in these crazy times and I cant wait to change some more, for the better of course. I hope to give anyone who may read my posts or blog a little bit of faith that its never too late to change your life into what you want it to be. Just believe in yourself and give it hell! Something will eventually give way to a new and beautiful beginning.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Almost to Washington
Well It has been a while since I last wrote but here is the low down of my travels so far.....Lots of driving!!! So far I have drove about 2200 miles across the US from Hickory, NC to Terry, MT. Soooo before I got the chance to head out on the open road for my trip on July 6th, I decided to take a ride down to the store for a Cheerwine or Soda (only in NC by the way) and my transmission decided to crap out on me... UGH! What timing right? Well I did manage to find an auto mechanic to rebuild it. $1,400.00 was the Bill!!! wow. Not what I was expecting but I had to have it done.
The auto shop came through just in time for me to be able to take off from Hickory, NC and start my trip. Of course, I was very worried about driving it 3000 miles without driving around town a little but, I figured that this is a road trip... aren't they supposed to be full of surprises? Well I have good news to report about the transmission, it is just great!
I left out early on July 6th and took I-40 West towards Asheville, NC and if you want to see a beautiful sight in the NC mountains... drive early in the morning and watch the sunrise over the fog that has settled between the mountain peaks! By the time I had reached exit 90 the fog was starting to be visible and when I reached Black Mountain the clouds were holding to the valley floors.
I crossed into Tennessee through the Tunnel on I-40 W and was jammin out. I have to say that I beep the horn on my Explorer every time I pass through a tunnel or pass by a sign that designated crossing into a new state. My mom started me doing that so I have continued to do so all the way to Washington. I get a few weird looks from people who are right beside me when I do it. Hahaha... they either slow down or speed up and give me that go to hell look. I think its funny!
My next stop is In St. Louis, MO where I stayed over night with a fellow classmate. We went out and had some shark meat and a beer or two. I had a pretty good time but I still hate the cities. So I left from there and headed to my grandparents house in KS. I stayed there for about 10 days and went fishing and did a lot of eating. I mean a lot of eating. I spent time with my aunt and uncle and all my cousins. I had so much fun. Shooting Skeet or Blue rocks with the family is always fun! I have to say that Wendy is really good at shooting and fishing. Wendy and I took out the canoe and fished in a near by pond for bass and caught some Monksters! We grilled em up and had a feast. From Kansas I left out on the Pony Express or Hwy 36 and then cut through Nebraska to South Dakota. I am not knocking the Mid west but all I saw was farm land and a shit ton of bugs once I reached SD.
So I hit up the Badlands of SD and it was beautiful and very very very hot. It was July when I went through. I got to see the park and you know I thought it was going to be a bit different once I got there but, It was bumper to bumper traffic through the park. I honestly will probably never go back to a National Park again just because of the way they are set up. I think that you should be able to appreciate nature from a more non commercial way. Maybe see the park for how it is instead of paving a two lane highway through it, just so you don't have to get out of your car to see how magical the place really is. But, enough of that.
I drove from my Grandparents house in NE Kansas to near Miles City Montana in 17 hours straight. Thanks 5 hr energy. What the crap is in that stuff??? I was still wired when I made it to my destination. Once I reached Montana. I stayed with some really good friends and hung out there for about a week. I got to see some really cool thunderstorms and lightning storms there. The sunsets are to die for! Then I went to a ghost town where I fell in love with the setting. House is facing the west to see the sunsets from the front porch and total peace and quiet. All I could hear was the wind pushing the prairie grasses around in circles, small birds and insects making their usual noises. But what I noticed the most is how wonderful it is to not hear a single car or vehicle or horn or anything from the modern world. I felt like I was the last person on earth... and I felt really privileged to be able to have that feeling and to know there are places in the world that you can have that feeling. I felt joy and a sense of relaxation and also peace within.
The auto shop came through just in time for me to be able to take off from Hickory, NC and start my trip. Of course, I was very worried about driving it 3000 miles without driving around town a little but, I figured that this is a road trip... aren't they supposed to be full of surprises? Well I have good news to report about the transmission, it is just great!
I left out early on July 6th and took I-40 West towards Asheville, NC and if you want to see a beautiful sight in the NC mountains... drive early in the morning and watch the sunrise over the fog that has settled between the mountain peaks! By the time I had reached exit 90 the fog was starting to be visible and when I reached Black Mountain the clouds were holding to the valley floors.
I crossed into Tennessee through the Tunnel on I-40 W and was jammin out. I have to say that I beep the horn on my Explorer every time I pass through a tunnel or pass by a sign that designated crossing into a new state. My mom started me doing that so I have continued to do so all the way to Washington. I get a few weird looks from people who are right beside me when I do it. Hahaha... they either slow down or speed up and give me that go to hell look. I think its funny!
My next stop is In St. Louis, MO where I stayed over night with a fellow classmate. We went out and had some shark meat and a beer or two. I had a pretty good time but I still hate the cities. So I left from there and headed to my grandparents house in KS. I stayed there for about 10 days and went fishing and did a lot of eating. I mean a lot of eating. I spent time with my aunt and uncle and all my cousins. I had so much fun. Shooting Skeet or Blue rocks with the family is always fun! I have to say that Wendy is really good at shooting and fishing. Wendy and I took out the canoe and fished in a near by pond for bass and caught some Monksters! We grilled em up and had a feast. From Kansas I left out on the Pony Express or Hwy 36 and then cut through Nebraska to South Dakota. I am not knocking the Mid west but all I saw was farm land and a shit ton of bugs once I reached SD.
So I hit up the Badlands of SD and it was beautiful and very very very hot. It was July when I went through. I got to see the park and you know I thought it was going to be a bit different once I got there but, It was bumper to bumper traffic through the park. I honestly will probably never go back to a National Park again just because of the way they are set up. I think that you should be able to appreciate nature from a more non commercial way. Maybe see the park for how it is instead of paving a two lane highway through it, just so you don't have to get out of your car to see how magical the place really is. But, enough of that.
I drove from my Grandparents house in NE Kansas to near Miles City Montana in 17 hours straight. Thanks 5 hr energy. What the crap is in that stuff??? I was still wired when I made it to my destination. Once I reached Montana. I stayed with some really good friends and hung out there for about a week. I got to see some really cool thunderstorms and lightning storms there. The sunsets are to die for! Then I went to a ghost town where I fell in love with the setting. House is facing the west to see the sunsets from the front porch and total peace and quiet. All I could hear was the wind pushing the prairie grasses around in circles, small birds and insects making their usual noises. But what I noticed the most is how wonderful it is to not hear a single car or vehicle or horn or anything from the modern world. I felt like I was the last person on earth... and I felt really privileged to be able to have that feeling and to know there are places in the world that you can have that feeling. I felt joy and a sense of relaxation and also peace within.
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