I want to write about kindness now
the quiet, unheroic humanity
that takes many forms
amidst blizzards of all sorts.
Here, now, we have snow and wind.
A doozey last night that's still blowing.
There, a drought
or a flurry of words
or a grief or illness
that brings us to our knees.
What shows up without hesitation
is the wave or nod,
the home-cooked meal dropped off:
unexpected
or part of a carefully planned
network of support.
The surprise of a driveway
cleared of snow not by your doing.
The phone call.
The hug.
The willingness to risk again.
The renewed faith in connections-
large and small--
that remind us we are part
of a big world
full of tender hearts
and good intentions
that often find their mark.
The weather isn't all
that warrants our words.
It is, as well, the kindness
of neighbors, strangers,
and those we love most
who carve a path to and from our hearts
as surely as these walls of snow and ice
descend like canyons down to roads and driveways.
This blowing, magnificent, maddening
blanket of snow
brings also a warmth that is indifferent to temperatures
or forecasts of unyielding cold.
~Chris Heeter
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The Wild Institute believes that wilderness is less about struggle and stress, and more about connection to self, others, and the earth. So, Wild Institute trips are carefully designed with a blend of physical challenge, quiet introspection, laughter and conversation, and exploration of our beautiful, wild world.
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