Finding joy

These days, finding joy seems to be a challenge. We do find joy in our sunrises. Sitting in the dark, sipping a fresh cup of coffee and absorbing the incremental changes as night sounds and dark skies give way to dawn. It is a deep bonding without compromise. There is tremendous joy on beginning the day in this peaceful, calming manner.

A week ago, at 6:10am while enjoying an especially stunning sunrise, a cluster of automatic rifle fire exploded from the dark behind our home. A very loud recording it turns out but meant to frighten. Later, one of the frighteners actually said “Boo” as my wife walked by. Another neighbor who was not concerned about rapid gunfire coming from the dark near his house, told the Deputy that it was “harmless”. You would only say that if you were aware of what was happening. So, we have condoning and embracing of intimidating and harassing behavior. A reminder to those who shrug their shoulders to this. They may have their feet in a legal space but to intimidate and threaten with a weapon is a felony offense. To be aware of the action is to be an accomplice which also carries a stiff penalty.

Then on two days following, another frightener began target practice on the hill behind the house. When asked to stop, he said “FU f-ing Bitc….” All legal as to where someone can shoot their guns. Not legal as to intimidating harassment. This is the same fellow who for the last two years has thrown his morning banana peel on our fence as he walks his dogs. Such a harmless gesture but when you think of this behavior persisting daily over a two-year period, it is a threatening pattern. Particularly as he carries a handgun as he walks. One can imagine the reaction from the Sheriffs Department when someone reports banana peels thrown in a threatening manner on one’s fence.

Now our community has two “legal” shooting ranges on either end of our town. They are on private land and the “legal” 150 yards away from a residence. There are no regulations as to when and how long they can shoot. Surprise, surprise, surprise. I am just glad that bullets recognize that they can only travel 150 yards before falling to the ground.

Why is this acid behavior becoming so prevalent in our daily lives now? Why is hate, anger and lying just accepted now as the norm? “Oh, that is just so and so. They wouldn’t do anything really harmful like shoot your dog.” That is true until it happens. We push back in any way and they retaliate. Hence the most common response we see, is numbness and turning a blind eye to reality.

I grew up being raised to think that truth, love, and compassion were morals to strive for and to practice. It is with great sadness that we find ourselves in a society that has become numb to the loss of those morals. Is this not domestic violence? Our rights to enjoy our public lands, our peace and quiet, our compassion for life, are being abused and trampled by threats wearing many faces. That is what this is, abuse. Abuse of our morals and ethic behavior. Abuse of our right to experience joy and happiness. This environment is caustic to our health. When you find yourself waking with angry thoughts, and going to sleep with angry thoughts, then the frighteners have won this round.

I refuse to let them change my life in this manner. Fortunately, many of the frighteners have little use of their lower limbs. They rarely venture off the roads and out of their rubber-wheeled appendages. Which leaves much of the National Forest still accessible, open to appreciating users.

To close many of my performances as Aldo Leopold I leave the audience with these thoughts and a challenge: Take a walk and experience the wonders of a new place. Marvel at an old place but seen through new eyes. Ponder the complexity of the life before you. Look closely at the land; the soils, waters, plants, and animals and at how intricately they are entwined with each other as are we. As are we. For without this tether to the natural world. We are but meaningless beings lost in the illusion of self-importance.

So, to find our grounding tether to nature, we marvel at sunrises and quietly greet the new day. We hike up in the hills experiencing the joys of nature that abounds on all sides. Lichens bright with vibrancy from a recent monsoon rain, the return of our Pinyon Jay flock and their raucous calls, the kettle of spiraling vultures high above, the fragrance of Long-tubed 4-O’Clocks wafting through the evening sky, all blend to become a marvelous natural experience.

Then we close the day with Lesser Nighthawks and bats darting through the evening colors that enlighten the tattered clouds. Poorwills and Great-horned owls give voice to the dark, starry night. We may even hear the yips of a coyote or the bark of a fox.

There are many pieces to living a joyous and fulfilling life. Learning to shed the grasping tendrils of the haters and liars by filling the sky with peals of laughter and music, that is a lesson well worth the time to embrace. So, search within and find what brings you the most joy. What makes you smile. Not grimace but smile. Those things are worthy of our attention. Talk a long walk and observe life’s dance. Perhaps be daring and take a twirl or two around nature’s dancehall yourself.

If you wish to share some of the ways you keep your sanity, please write me. The more like souls who embrace this nurturing way of life, the better our community becomes.

Enjoy!