Into The Wild

Living fifty-one years on this earth and being exposed to nature, sometimes by choice other times not. I must admit I have never been so moved by a book or movie. “Into the Wild’” became my muse my heart song. I over identified with the plight of Chris McCandless and his journey, his emotional pain as well as his reckoning which preceded his demise. As a victim of abuse and shattered relationships I realized that my own awakening must come with “Above His Shoulders” as well as me leaving and getting divorced. I would no longer become a yes man, a doormat out to please others. It was time for myself to look in the mirror and my life.

I was made fun of, others realized my obsession, but could not wrap their head around why this movie and book enveloped me so intensly. Chris McCandless’s emotional pain, dysfunctional family and search for his own introspection and meaning of life was a blueprint for me to find Dan Williams. Many individuals were moved by the movie, to the point of traveling to Alaska and going on their own pilgrimage. Dangerous and shortsighted by many I am sure. One’s pilgrimage does not have to be an exploration to a remote area of Alaska. In fact that could not only be very dangerous if one has no outdoor survival experience but also be a lesson in futility. A pilgrimage could be an overnight in a park, a weekend at Glacier National Park, or long day walk near a river or stream. Extremes are not necessarily the answer and they do not have to be dramatic.

I continue to write, I continue to work on myself. I look for my shortcomings, try to recognize my own poor insight into myself and see the good in others. Life is a work in progress. If we are lucky we will find someone to work on them with us. Never the less they need to be looked at. Chris McCandless saw the beauty in nature as his own muse, that took him to spiritual heights. Yes we have to be happy with ourselves, yes we must feel secure with who we are and be confident not arrogant. Then, once we realize this and get that internalized into our psychic make up. Then we can share, then we can lean on others, and others can lean on us. Chris learned that towards the end, as he profoundly states,’HAPPINESS REAL WHEN SHARED.’

Become a fan on facebook. See the photographs of the actual oak tree and the authors home, as well as a sneak peak at the new book. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Above-His-Shoulders/274131107309?ref=nf