Boundary Waters
In other news, I just came back from a five-day camping trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. Guiding us through the mosquito-infested lakes and forests was the founder of the Wilderness Classrooom, Dave Freeman.

I started out as inexperienced, retreating in defense against the inconveniences of the wild. After just a day, my left hand and both ears were swollen and itching really bad due to reactions to insect bites, and I just wanted to go home. We had interspersed rain every day, I never mastered the art of steering a canoe, I wasn't much of a help and didn't aid much in raising the spirits. We kept a fast pace, carrying heavy packs and canoes over long portages between lakes, and left little time for idling about; all quite opposite of what I'd prefer doing. Yet, I tagged along and didn't complain. I like nature, but this is the first time I've really had to struggle against it. There were short moments of bliss and beauty, though, and we saw some Bald Eagles and other wild animals.

I was much more relieved than sorry at coming back and getting a shower and a comfy bed, but... I came back stronger somehow. I hadn't had the time to repose, to meditate, to feel as one with the nature or anything like that, but still, I had gained something from it all, some form of confidence and peace. Before the journey and even during it, I had a loneliness within me, an impatience towards rewards I wanted to reap from life. Returning from the woods, I have felt much more content with just being -- being myself, and being by myself. I think it's going to last for a while, but if it doesn't, then that just means I need to head out into the wild again, eh?