WolfDreamer and The Fall

[WolfDreamer]

Greetings, fellow Adventurers.

 

Apologies for the delay in posting my challenge, but ugh... it has been a rough few weeks. I bounced between feeling guilty for not being more active here on the forums and trying to extend grace to myself because I honestly am overwhelmed right now. And then I agonized over what to theme my challenge this time, and yesterday I was overcome with something, and now I know...

 

It's fall. I know it isn't *officially* fall, but hear me out. Yesterday, I woke up early, stepped outside, and it was 55 degrees, foggy, and I could just barely smell damp leaves. It felt like an autumn morning. I was reminded that autumn is one of the more powerful seasons and brings with it transformational change. This includes death, or at least the perception of death, the shedding of things no longer needed but whose sacrifice is necessary in order to bring new and better life. But before this, the vibrancy and electricity of early autumn: colors, sounds, smells, sensations, crisp cool mornings giving way to warm afternoons and back again to cool nights, wisps of fog hugging the mountaintops and river valleys and fading with the glowing sunrise.

 

That's the theme for this challenge: Autumn. It will bring with it some little deaths, necessary losses that allow growth to happen. Change is inevitable and good. It is transformative.

 

So my goal may sound vague to you, but I know what I mean by it and how I am going to go about achieving it.

 

 

GOAL: To embrace and embody the transformative energies of autumn.

 

[echoesofwonder]

So Autumn,  when you really get that smell of leaves,  it’s my favorite.  I call my mom up and I always say “It smells like my birthday!!!”  
 

I’m an October baby,  and I have always found magic in the fall.  I love the changing of the leaves,  the hoodies, the bonfires.  Something about it always just makes me feel whole.

 

The thought of things dying off to make room for the new growth,  I love that.  I’m excited to follow your thread.

 

There’s a great poem by James Whitcomb Riley called “When the Frost is on the Punkin”. You should check it out here:

 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44956/when-the-frost-is-on-the-punkin

 

 

[Snarkyfishguts]

 

This is a very Druid-y goal, and I approve. 

 

Instead of thinking it as a death, it's nice to think of Autumn as kicking off hot socks after a run, cooling your feet and filling your tummy before taking a nap under your favorite white blanket. I think I will take a nap now, just to make sure I have the technique down. 

 

But in all seriousness, it's a good challenge. You have seemed overwhelmed lately, and this reminder to slow down and find some peace in this transformative season sounds really wonderful and restoring. 

[WolfDreamer]

47 minutes ago, echoesofwonder said:

it’s my favorite

 

It is gradually becoming mine, as well. 

 

47 minutes ago, echoesofwonder said:

I’m an October baby

 

Me too! Let's be friends! 😁I'm October 1st. When's yours?

 

48 minutes ago, echoesofwonder said:

There’s a great poem by James Whitcomb Riley called “When the Frost is on the Punkin”

 

Yes! I am familiar with that one. It used to be a favorite to read aloud to my students. Thank you for reminding me of it.

 

Welcome, btw, and please feel free to visit my thread anytime.

 

49 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

This is a very Druid-y goal, and I approve.

 

Oooh. I hadn't thought of it that way.

 

49 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

You have seemed overwhelmed lately, and this reminder to slow down and find some peace in this transformative season sounds really wonderful and restoring. 

 

Thank you. Yes, that was for sure my goal. I'm glad you're with us again Snarky. You help put a lot of things into perspective.

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Fall lover here as well, perhaps because it comes so late to my part of the world.

[Aquarii]

Autumn is hands down my favorite season, so I love your theme. Just your description of fall sounds magical. 

[Teros]

We all a bunch of Fall-lovers?  Because Fall is totes the best.  Thank God there's no more shirtless 60 year old dudes out mowing their lawns anymore, and no mosquitoes and bees trying to murder my face.

[WolfDreamer]

3 hours ago, Teros said:

Thank God there's no more shirtless 60 year old dudes out mowing their lawns anymore

 

I mow the lawn shirtless, but I'm only 40. But I'd be lying if I said I won't still be doing it at 60. 😆

 

I'm just hoping it looks more like this:

 

 

than this:

 

 

😜

[echoesofwonder]

On 9/9/2020 at 2:45 PM, WolfDreamer said:

Me too! Let's be friends! 😁I'm October 1st. When's yours?

October 21st.  We can absolutely be friends! 

 

On 9/9/2020 at 2:45 PM, WolfDreamer said:

Yes! I am familiar with that one. It used to be a favorite to read aloud to my students. Thank you for reminding me of it.

 

Welcome, btw, and please feel free to visit my thread anytime.

My 7th grade English teacher made us memorize it,  I wasn’t mad.  I’m a Hoosier and I thought maybe she made us do it because James Whitcomb Riley is also a Hoosier, but, it’s just probably that she liked it.

 

Also,  I’ll visit often! I’m so excited for this.

 

5 hours ago, Teros said:

We all a bunch of Fall-lovers?

 

2 hours ago, WolfDreamer said:

I mow the lawn shirtless, but I'm only 40. But I'd be lying if I said I won't still be doing it at 60. 😆

Hmmm,  how many felonies would it be if I mowed the yard shirtless?  😂😂😂

[WolfDreamer]

 

 

9/10/20 Update:

 

Something incredible happened yesterday. I have started running trails every Tuesday and Thursday before work. Typically, I run at Little Creek Park, but today I was a little behind, so I went to a much closer location in St. Albans, my other home town (if you've known me long enough, you know I have two home towns). A little less than a mile into my run, I hear these popping sounds, and I swear my body reacted before I could even process what it was. I immediately felt panicked, and I started running faster while also glancing in the direction of the sounds and at the same time trying to watch the trail to keep from tripping. Eventually, it registered that the sounds were of a tree falling, and as soon as I realized it was a safe distance away from me I stopped running and just watched and listened. I could literally feel its power as it dropped and felt the vibrations as it tumbled to the ground. My heart was still racing, but my body was no longer in panic mode, so I just stood there for a moment and allowed myself to process what had just happened.

 

You can only really understand how incredible this was for me if you know that I have been reading a book called New Self New World: Recovering Our Senses in the Twenty-First Century by Philip Shepherd. While it is difficult to explain this book in just a few sentences, essentially it is a book about embodiment and, to use Shepherd's own words, how "Everything in the universe is under the influence of every other particle." Shepherd talks about how most people have become disconnected from their bodies because for centuries the standard human story has been that our mind (i.e. brain, head) is separate from and more important than our body. Basically, too many people live in their heads and neglect their bodies. He points out that we actually have two minds, our "head" and our "gut" and that the two should not only be equally respected but should be united fully. In fact, Shepherd feels that humanity would be healthier and more in synch with the universe if most often we allowed our gut brain to inform our head brain rather than the other way around.

 

I don't know for sure if that's what I experienced yesterday, but it certainly felt like it. I didn't even know what the sounds were before I felt my body go on alert and react as it did.

 

Anyway, here's an update of my day:

• 5:30 AM wakeup
• said the Lord's Prayer, as well as a prayer of gratitude
• took the dogs outside while barefoot and shirtless; breathed deeply, feeling the cool morning air and catching the scent of a nearby fire (probably someone camping by the river or a neighbor's fire pit)
• took a cold shower; the water is finally starting to actually feel cold, unlike during most of summer when it is kind of just... cool.
• went for a 45 minute trail run: 3.5 miles
• as a way to incorporate "flavors" of autumn, I tried some maple almond flavored nut butter as a snack; it was freaking delicious
• spent most of the day in my classroom; two virtual conferences with students, both discussing story structure, answering a bunch of messages and phone calls, and helping my colleagues with some technology issues
• went for a 45 minute walk around campus; the leaves are not changing yet, but some are already falling, and I can see some discoloration of a few; there are also mushrooms popping up in various places on campus
• drank a full gallon of water (not all at once, of course)
• read 10 pages of New Self New World
• went to bed at 11:30 (later than I should have, but...)

[Snarkyfishguts]

Whew! I'm really glad you ended up not being in a dangerous situation. I think your gut brain was spot on to run, and it's good too, because so often people tend to freeze in a crisis, and if this is an indicator, you'll be one of the ones moving into action towards safety!

[Aquarii]

On 9/11/2020 at 9:31 AM, WolfDreamer said:

You can only really understand how incredible this was for me if you know that I have been reading a book called New Self New World: Recovering Our Senses in the Twenty-First Century by Philip Shepherd. While it is difficult to explain this book in just a few sentences, essentially it is a book about embodiment and, to use Shepherd's own words, how "Everything in the universe is under the influence of every other particle." Shepherd talks about how most people have become disconnected from their bodies because for centuries the standard human story has been that our mind (i.e. brain, head) is separate from and more important than our body. Basically, too many people live in their heads and neglect their bodies. He points out that we actually have two minds, our "head" and our "gut" and that the two should not only be equally respected but should be united fully. In fact, Shepherd feels that humanity would be healthier and more in synch with the universe if most often we allowed our gut brain to inform our head brain rather than the other way around.

 

It is so interesting that you bring this up. Just yesterday, after reading something out of one of Tim Ferriss's books, I was like "You know what, I really want to get back into a practice of really listening to, and trusting, my body, instead of just overriding everything with what I 'think' I know."

[echoesofwonder]

On 9/11/2020 at 9:31 AM, WolfDreamer said:

Eventually, it registered that the sounds were of a tree falling

As a child I spent a lot of time at my grandparents,  they lived in the woods,  and one time my mom took me out mushroom hunting. Thirty years later (roughly) I can still remember the sound of the tree falling.  It’s eerie, it’s magical,  and it was a close call.  
 

On 9/11/2020 at 9:31 AM, WolfDreamer said:

I tried some maple almond flavored nut butter

Well that sounds awesome.  Although this is how I feel when eating anything with that texture.  Not mad about it,  but still.  😂
 

[Leigh]

Trees falling is really fun/freaky for me. I was at camp in 1992 when Hurricane Andrew ripped up the coast and absolutely laid waste to the camp ground my city day camp was using. The storm completely destroyed all of the cabins at the camp, knocked down dozens of trees in the area and forced me and all other campers and staff to just haul ass up this gravel access road up to this big concrete building up the hill to take shelter. We all got picked up by our parents within the hour and sent home. We had thunder and lightning and insane winds all over town and I got to see one of the oldest trees in my city fall and smash through a few cars, completely ruin someone's new garage.

 

I was across the street from it when it fell and I could feel the sidewalk shaking as it hit the ground. Thankfully nobody was hurt and no homes were wrecked. But man that is still the most awesome thing I've seen happen in nature in my life.

[Teros]

On 9/10/2020 at 7:24 PM, WolfDreamer said:

I'm just hoping it looks more like this:

 

 

 

Old-Man Goals.

 

On 9/11/2020 at 9:31 AM, WolfDreamer said:

tree falling

 

I went to the woods with my bro-in-law because he was yelled at to take me (I was like 9) and we found a brook and a yellow rope hanging on a treebranch.  He thought it would be fun if he yelled like tarzan while swinging from the rope. 

 

Turns out the tree was old and he was too fat.

 

The entire tree snapped.  He fell into the creek and the tree fell *at* me.  You know how in those movies where something is falling and you think, "Just run to the SIDE of it?"  Yeah, when you see it coming at you, that's not how your brain thinks.  So the top half of a tree fell on me. Scratched my legs all up and my bro-in-law got yelled at for being too fat to be tarzan.  Trees cracking apart are so distinct.

 

Also I found this and was amused:

 

[Stronkey Kong]

Tree falling in the woods and someone is there to confirm that it makes a sound... +1

 

Tree falling in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound... still unconfirmed.

[Snarkyfishguts]

Adventurers get excited about falling trees, and I'm really loving this.

[WolfDreamer]

18 hours ago, Teros said:

 

Old-Man Goals.

 

Isn't that guy actually like... 35 years old, and he just grays his hair and beard to look older? Still looks like a badass, though.

 

I just want to be confident enough to walk around with my shirt off all the time, no matter how old I am.

 

18 hours ago, Teros said:

Trees cracking apart are so distinct

 

For sure they are. I have a similar story. I took my nephew hiking for the first time. We reached the top of a ridge, and I saw a thick vine hanging. I wanted to test it to see if we could hang on it and maybe climb up it like a rope. I tried it first, and the entire time he's saying, "Umm... umm...," and I didn't understand why because I was climbing just fine. Then I heard some pops and felt the vine snap. I dropped to the ground, and I could hear and feel branches coming down. My nephew groaned, and I thought for sure I had brought an entire tree down on him. Luckily, it was just the top that had snapped and only branches fell on him.

 

18 hours ago, Teros said:

Also I found this and was amused:

 

 

Ha, I love this. Also:

 

 

16 hours ago, Chris Tarly said:

Tree falling in the woods and someone is there to confirm that it makes a sound... +1

 

Tree falling in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound... still unconfirmed.

 

Existential answer: if no one is there to hear it, then it doesn't matter.

 

10 hours ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

Adventurers get excited about falling trees, and I'm really loving this.

 

I freaking love this group.

[WolfDreamer]

Sorry I haven't been very active, but work and graduate classwork has me occupied. I'm currently sitting on my couch, doing research, and jamming to this:

 

 

Also, while taking a break from studying I updated my spreadsheet for the Walk to Mordor and Back Again. I am only 258 miles from Mordor. I can see the glow of its fires in the distance. There is hope in the midst of despair.

 

 

I'll try my best to post a quick weekly update this weekend.

[Aquarii]

 

1 hour ago, WolfDreamer said:

Also, while taking a break from studying I updated my spreadsheet for the Walk to Mordor and Back Again. I am only 258 miles from Mordor. I can see the glow of its fires in the distance. There is hope in the midst of despair.

 

That is great. Sounds like you are making some great progress. I forget, how many miles is it total?

[WolfDreamer]

11 hours ago, Aquarii said:

 

 

That is great. Sounds like you are making some great progress. I forget, how many miles is it total?

 

Thank you. I appreciate it. I think it is 3,404 miles (5,478 km) from Hobbiton to Mordor and back again.

[Snarkyfishguts]

Man, you got this. Just stay hydrated, it gets hot up in Mt. Doom, y'know?

[WolfDreamer]

25 minutes ago, Snarkyfishguts said:

Man, you got this. Just stay hydrated, it gets hot up in Mt. Doom, y'know?

 

Well, I'm drinking a gallon a day for the 75 Hard Challenge, so I'm good. 😆

[Snarkyfishguts]

Just now, WolfDreamer said:

 

Well, I'm drinking a gallon a day for the 75 Hard Challenge, so I'm good. 😆

DERP, I totally forgot that fact!

[WolfDreamer]

Y'all... 

 

 

I'm feeling pretty good. Just a few things to share, and then I'll post my update for week one.

 

Officially, I failed the 75 Hard Challenge. Friday, I forgot to take a progress pic, and I was so busy that I did not get the full gallon of water. Unofficially, I am going to stick with it because I am doing well with the diet (still no fast food, no sodas, and no alcohol), the two 45 minute workouts, and the 10 pages of reading every day. I'm just not going to stress myself out if I forget to take a pic or if I do not drink a full gallon of water. I may recalibrate some habits and routines and try again later.

 

Since I mentioned books, I won a giveaway from Inspired Legacy, which is a men's ministry and podcast, specifically for fathers. The book was Stephen Mansfield's newest one, Men on Fire. The book is a really powerful call to action for those of us who identify as men to step into our value and purpose as men. Mansfield feels that men who do not know who they are are the most dangerous kinds of men. "Men who do not know who they are and who do not understand the power of noble manhood and the duties of a righteous man are terrorizing our age and destroying themselves." He makes the very valid point that most of the atrocities in our nation today (violence, sexual assault, etc.) have been committed by white, middle-class, and often "Christian" young men. I like the direct writing style of the book, but as I read it I recognize that I know some men who would be put off by this. However, Mansfield makes a good point that men need to stop placing blame, take ownership of their mistakes, and band together to fix them.

 

I'm still running trails three days a week: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. My buddy Rick is running a 100 mile race in November, and I am going to pace him for the last 18 miles. It will be the longest trail run for me ever, even though my measly 18 will be nothing compared to his awesome 100. But it is located in the New River Gorge, one of my favorite regions of the state. The last 18 miles is mostly uphill with a climb of 2,890 ft.

 

So I'm doing okay. I also started watching Lovecraft Country because it seemed appropriate with Halloween coming soon, and I really enjoyed the book and have been looking forward to the show. If you've seen it, comment with what you think of it so far. I just started the second episode.

 

Week 1 Update:

• woke up before sunrise every day except Sunday
• said the Lord's Prayer every morning, as well as a prayer of gratitude
• took the dogs outside while barefoot and shirtless; most mornings it has been about 45-50 degrees F, which is just cool enough to prepare me for much colder exposure to come later in the season.
• took cold showers, which are getting even cooler as the nights and mornings get colder
• trail runs are going great; my gps isn't accurate, but I am relying mostly on how my body feels during and after the run
• eating a lot of almond butter lately; I also had a pumpkin strudel muffin for breakfast, and I have been drinking cocoa made from cacao powder and sweetened with honey
• my wife made chili this weekend, which I consider to be an excellent fall meal, perfect for cool evenings; in the winter she makes vegetable soup
• virtual conferences with students are becoming more frequent and more productive
• still taking daily walks around campus, trying to get creative each time and mix it up a bit; some days I listen to podcast, some days music, and some days just the sounds of my environment
• still trying to drink a lot of water but not stressing about if it is a gallon or not
• reading Men on Fire
• been getting to bed by 10:30

I leave you with this: