wild & free

I love the word wild. I like when it describes animals and flowers. I especially like when it describes people. One definition is “uncontrolled or unrestrained, especially in pursuit of pleasure.” Ahh, I love this. However, synonyms can include undisciplined, unruly, rowdy, and disorderly. This word of mine has a funny way about it like that, I guess. it’s not just that wild has several meanings. What is more notable is that it can receive different reactions to the same definition. 

A person with that description would be a person I’d admire, but others that disagree with me could use those synonyms to describe that same person, for the same reasons that I would want to call that free spirit my friend and idol. I idolize strong-willed men and women who have to come up against everyone around them living a default-setting life and pull through doing whatever it is they want. That default-setting is so easy to fall into though, so easy to flow with, get approved of, and never questioned. Hey, if you love your life, but it happens to be that traditional way, that’s fine, that’s great. I’m just concerned for those who do not love their life and are only living it because it was the default they fell into. I do not want that to be me. 

The wild, to me, are free thinkers, risk takers, dreamers, doers. They do what they want, do what they love, without fear of what others may think, without fear of being different. That’s who I admire. That’s who I aim to be.

Henry David Thoreau, the great wild man himself, said “whatever has not come under the sway of man is wild. In this sense, original and independent men are wild - not tamed and broken by society.” He also said “go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” And “disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” Good man. 

I leave in eight hours! With that said, I am prone to homesickness. I’m already feeling it and I haven’t left yet. I’ll arrive somewhere and think “Why did I do this? I just want to be home on the couch!” My couch + Henley + TV = mega comfort zone. Luckily, I’ll be with Henley, and home is wherever I’m with him, so instead of being severely homesick, I will just be mildly uncomfortable. I think a contributing factor to my not quite chipper mood is that Holly and I will be moving the day I get home. We’ve lived here for four years and love it, but Holly bought a condo so we’re moving to a new neighborhood. We’re excited, but I will miss it here. It’s home. Walking Henley around the village was our last walk around the village, cooking dinner was our last dinner here together, everything felt like shutting the door on this wonderful phase of our lives.

This move meant packing everything, not just for the trip. Sitting at my dining room table right now I am flanked on both sides by long rows of packed boxes stacked three or four high. The walls are bare, my room is nearly empty, the back of my car looks like a comfy bed, and a very large car roof cargo box (hopefully secured properly) is full. 

It’s go time. First stop: Pennsylvania! 

<3 E&H

There’s no where to go but everywhere.