Well, did you? In fact, I learned all about it today from a very enthusiastic tourist from south Florida. You see, on a typical work day, I ride out to the cabin I am stationed at for work, change into my 1930's era clothing, open all the nail pierced shutters (a story for a different day), and await the bus loads of tourists. Once they get there, I give a roughly 10 minute presentation on the history of the cabin and the people who have worked there. Afterwards, several things happen. The porch is rushed by a wall of people wanting to peek inside the cabin. Sometimes there is applause. I get smiles, thank you's and compliments from several of the visitors. And then, I answer questions.
Believe me when I say that these questions run the gamut. I have been asked how much the typical sled dogs weigh (hell if I know), do the mosquitoes up here actually bite(umm...), do they carry West Nile virus (wait, what?), if I live in the cabin year round (that would be a no) and if the outhouse out back is functional (that would be a yes.)
Today after my second round of presentations, I met a very jovial older man from south Florida. He had an enormous smile on his face. He told me that he could tell I enjoyed talking about the sled dogs. And then he asked me the question that begin this post.
I stood, dumbfounded. Was this a real question? How did we get here? We are in Alaska...right?
But this kind and eager man shared with me all he knew about the recovery process of the American crocodile population in Florida. (For more information check this article from 2011 and another from 2012) As he concluded his saga, the man looked into my eyes and saw the question lurking there...
Where did this come from?
He smiled at me and said "You gave me so much information about something that you love - I just wanted to return the favor."
In that moment, I shook my head and smiled. In the almost 12 hours since that happened, I have not been able to stop smiling that someone found so much joy in an exchange of pleasantries and stories.
All day long I have been searching for the optimal metaphor, the most perfect picture to paint in order to explain effort that I am starting via this blog and my social media feed.
What I found was mångata. Mångata is a Swedish term meaning "moon-road." More contextually, it is a word that describes the road-like reflection that moonlight creates on water.
Let me explain.
Over the past several months, even years. It feels as though the world has been knocked off it's moral axis. Perhaps it is actually a worsening of the global human condition. It could be that media is increasingly covering and/or exposing appalling, bizarre human behavior. It could be that I am noticing it more the older I get. More than likely, it is a combination of all three. I don't think there is any way to know for sure.
A few days ago, upon logging into social media and seeing everything from the conflicting points of outrage over the Duggar family scandal, to the continued hate speech from all sides of the "black vs blue lives" argument. And I hit a wall.
Is anyone else tired of breathing in and absorbing this toxic human righteousness everyday?
Is anyone else hurting, laboring from the weight of hateful exchanges that we are constantly exposed to via almost every form of online communication?
Am I the only one?
I can't be. I just know that I can't be. There has got to be someone else out there who attempts to stay informed in these things and ends up feeling like the have bricks on their chest. Odds are there is at least one other person out there who sees all the lines that get drawn to separate ourselves from others and just weeps. I know that I am not alone. I don't know if you, whoever you are reading this right now, understands. Maybe you just drew another line to stand on the other side of - I don't know.
Honestly, I don't much care. And so instead of lines, I will put forth hope. I will attempt to help with the reflection of the good. I hope to amplify positivity in the face of darkness. Find joy. Find hope. Find a way to illuminate a path towards the slightly less heavy space where we feel faith in humanity can possibly be restored.
I seek to create a moon-road.
Mission of the month: Attempt to post at least one thing every day via social media that is intended to bring joy to people regardless of where they have drawn their lines in the sand.
My first share is this article about how high school students in Wasilla, AK have worked to help raise money for a local organization that seeks to prevent, evaluate, and treat child abuse. If we could all put forth such an amazing effort!
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