I am so glad you are being honest with yourself about your past as a Disney princess. That is the first step 😂
I understand the exhaustion from being around people, but I don’t know that I share your feelings about animals. Maybe I just have not spent enough time in nature to really know.
I consider myself on an unknown spectrum of introvert and extrovert, the slider moves freely. I spend the majority of my time physically alone, and am incredibly comfortable with that. But I can also speak to literally anyone. I’ll talk to strangers here and there all day. I’m fascinated by humans, by our shared humanity and the ways we connect, and disconnect. This is balance for me. I’ve learned my own energy enough, found the insides of all this skin, and some strange activation I received in 2018 has given me an extra sensory layer, that works like strings on a musical instrument, in a vast electrical field most of us can’t see. I feel everyone, no matter the distance. It’s a form of telepathy, and we are...or have always been, heading this way. I don’t believe it’s reserved for a select few. Are people exhausting? Yes! That’s chaos. That’s the part of nature that creates storms, earthquakes. Animals never lost touch and this is why we look to them. They are our wise guardians and companions, here to remind us how to be.
If I’m being honest, I’m more of an ambivert than I realized. I’ve always leaned more on the introvert side though.
However, I have learned that although absolutely fascinated by humans. They drain me immensely. This in part has also been increased by the job I currently have. As well as just the state of the world. Sometimes, I lose faith in the human race entirely. I then therefore seek solace with animals and wild things.
I day dream of what it must be like to be an animal in the wild. Untethered to the complexity of human society. Where days are spent just to survive physically. Building homes, creating families, finding food, everything required to live without the added pressure of politics, religion, societal norms, social constructs…
If we’re lucky though, we can find special humans that we vibe with. That their presence feels as calming as being around wild things. For those humans, I am thankful and will always keep close by.
In general though, I prefer wild things, far less draining to be around. But with the right people, they also bring life to me.
We are all just wild things, reacting out of various levels of instinct and reaction, pain and pleasure. Humans please themselves by elevating our species above the rest, but in crisis, we have not broken free of conditioned responses.
I’ve found the little humans respond to interaction as bears of the beach, or spooked horses.
It’s our own level of engagement, our entangled souls which drain us when our hearts are broken between. We easily let ‘lesser’ wild things go, knowing it’s not our place to demand their presence in our lives. When a human stomps on our foot, whining at the sky, we exhaust ourselves to rein him in, corral the colt with boundaries set by former men, and break him until he rides in lanes his breed demands.
We ask too much of our humans.
We’re all just wild things, broken, trained, all waiting to be pastured, praying for rewilding .
I have always felt a connection with animals and still do at 66 years old. I will probably put this a bit more blunt, but people have always been "over-rated" to me. I know that sounds horrible, but laying it out there. Feel so much sympathy for animals and with animals, enough to believe I was probably one in a past life....just kidding, but i feel this post and writing like none other. Wonderful words as always - you do magic with a pen or typewriter, repeatedly. Always smile when I see you have posted something.
I can definitely relate to the Disney princess feeling! haha. I'm that person who seeks out the cat or dog at a house party instead of hanging with the humans. I'm most certainly an introvert, but quality time with my favourite humans with whom I can totally be myself around energizes me.
If a human is walking down the street with a dog, ten times out of ten I will greet the dog without making eye contact with the human. Since working from home I often have the deepest conversations with the mountain chickadees and squirrels than any other beings for a week or two at a stretch.
This hit home. I am a secret or not so secret hermit/introvert. Nothing made me feel more at peace than being locked in my house for months! My books, my dog, the people I'm closest to in my communications. My apartment became that cabin in the woods I longed for. But now I'm back to the "world" of tourists and traffic and all that comes with it. I put on my work smile and I dream of the days I spent in the Alaska wilds, floating in my stepdad's boat next to orcas and otters, with no sounds other than water, wind and the splash of the fins. I am not of this world of beach umbrellas, long lines and sunny, hot days. Some day I'll go back I know.
If I have to pick it would be with animals - though my first choice would be to be alone. I spend a lot of time having to be "on" with other people. I have made a commitment to be as present as possible in each conversation, listening, learning, absorbing. This is draining. I most prefer stillness and silence. A place to recharge. I do find that in walks with my dog, but for the most part could find it just as well alone.
Drained by humanity. I have definitely been feeling that all of the pandemic. I have a certain amount of socializing and people that I can handle, and then I become exhausted and drained. I also find that I have a higher tolerance for certain people (mostly those close to me). I don't do as well in large group situations, especially if they are strangers. I prefer one on one or small groups where I can connect deeply with people. Small talk and surface level interactions exhaust me very quickly.
I also share the love of nature and animals. I find that I can recharge myself by spending time in nature. I especially love water. If I can sit by the water, I can fill my soul up. Also, if I could be surrounded by butterflies, that would be ultimate. I have always been drawn to butterflies.
Tyler, I read your newsletter yesterday morning and then came across this poem last night and thought you and other readers would love it: “The Peace of Wild Things” by Scottish poet, Wendell Berry.
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
—
This is exactly how I feel about wild things. I love the animals, but I think —even more— I love the the plants, the mountains, the trees, the water, the sky in all its shades of day and night. Everything that feels bigger and older than me. It all gives me hope and perspective when the world tires me out. Going to nature is the best reset for my soul. That said, I too, am fascinated by people and enjoy getting together with others for deep conversation and connection. Like other posters, I’m more of an ambivert than I ever realized and I think 2020 helped me see how much we need community to move forward. Thanks so much for the prompt — it’s been fun to think about and I’m excited to be a part of this awesome group of humans!
I am so glad you are being honest with yourself about your past as a Disney princess. That is the first step 😂
I understand the exhaustion from being around people, but I don’t know that I share your feelings about animals. Maybe I just have not spent enough time in nature to really know.
I consider myself on an unknown spectrum of introvert and extrovert, the slider moves freely. I spend the majority of my time physically alone, and am incredibly comfortable with that. But I can also speak to literally anyone. I’ll talk to strangers here and there all day. I’m fascinated by humans, by our shared humanity and the ways we connect, and disconnect. This is balance for me. I’ve learned my own energy enough, found the insides of all this skin, and some strange activation I received in 2018 has given me an extra sensory layer, that works like strings on a musical instrument, in a vast electrical field most of us can’t see. I feel everyone, no matter the distance. It’s a form of telepathy, and we are...or have always been, heading this way. I don’t believe it’s reserved for a select few. Are people exhausting? Yes! That’s chaos. That’s the part of nature that creates storms, earthquakes. Animals never lost touch and this is why we look to them. They are our wise guardians and companions, here to remind us how to be.
If I’m being honest, I’m more of an ambivert than I realized. I’ve always leaned more on the introvert side though.
However, I have learned that although absolutely fascinated by humans. They drain me immensely. This in part has also been increased by the job I currently have. As well as just the state of the world. Sometimes, I lose faith in the human race entirely. I then therefore seek solace with animals and wild things.
I day dream of what it must be like to be an animal in the wild. Untethered to the complexity of human society. Where days are spent just to survive physically. Building homes, creating families, finding food, everything required to live without the added pressure of politics, religion, societal norms, social constructs…
If we’re lucky though, we can find special humans that we vibe with. That their presence feels as calming as being around wild things. For those humans, I am thankful and will always keep close by.
In general though, I prefer wild things, far less draining to be around. But with the right people, they also bring life to me.
We are all just wild things, reacting out of various levels of instinct and reaction, pain and pleasure. Humans please themselves by elevating our species above the rest, but in crisis, we have not broken free of conditioned responses.
I’ve found the little humans respond to interaction as bears of the beach, or spooked horses.
It’s our own level of engagement, our entangled souls which drain us when our hearts are broken between. We easily let ‘lesser’ wild things go, knowing it’s not our place to demand their presence in our lives. When a human stomps on our foot, whining at the sky, we exhaust ourselves to rein him in, corral the colt with boundaries set by former men, and break him until he rides in lanes his breed demands.
We ask too much of our humans.
We’re all just wild things, broken, trained, all waiting to be pastured, praying for rewilding .
I have always felt a connection with animals and still do at 66 years old. I will probably put this a bit more blunt, but people have always been "over-rated" to me. I know that sounds horrible, but laying it out there. Feel so much sympathy for animals and with animals, enough to believe I was probably one in a past life....just kidding, but i feel this post and writing like none other. Wonderful words as always - you do magic with a pen or typewriter, repeatedly. Always smile when I see you have posted something.
I can definitely relate to the Disney princess feeling! haha. I'm that person who seeks out the cat or dog at a house party instead of hanging with the humans. I'm most certainly an introvert, but quality time with my favourite humans with whom I can totally be myself around energizes me.
If a human is walking down the street with a dog, ten times out of ten I will greet the dog without making eye contact with the human. Since working from home I often have the deepest conversations with the mountain chickadees and squirrels than any other beings for a week or two at a stretch.
This hit home. I am a secret or not so secret hermit/introvert. Nothing made me feel more at peace than being locked in my house for months! My books, my dog, the people I'm closest to in my communications. My apartment became that cabin in the woods I longed for. But now I'm back to the "world" of tourists and traffic and all that comes with it. I put on my work smile and I dream of the days I spent in the Alaska wilds, floating in my stepdad's boat next to orcas and otters, with no sounds other than water, wind and the splash of the fins. I am not of this world of beach umbrellas, long lines and sunny, hot days. Some day I'll go back I know.
Cool wind on my face,
4 am walk in dark peace,
Only stars know why.
If I have to pick it would be with animals - though my first choice would be to be alone. I spend a lot of time having to be "on" with other people. I have made a commitment to be as present as possible in each conversation, listening, learning, absorbing. This is draining. I most prefer stillness and silence. A place to recharge. I do find that in walks with my dog, but for the most part could find it just as well alone.
Drained by humanity. I have definitely been feeling that all of the pandemic. I have a certain amount of socializing and people that I can handle, and then I become exhausted and drained. I also find that I have a higher tolerance for certain people (mostly those close to me). I don't do as well in large group situations, especially if they are strangers. I prefer one on one or small groups where I can connect deeply with people. Small talk and surface level interactions exhaust me very quickly.
I also share the love of nature and animals. I find that I can recharge myself by spending time in nature. I especially love water. If I can sit by the water, I can fill my soul up. Also, if I could be surrounded by butterflies, that would be ultimate. I have always been drawn to butterflies.
Tyler, I read your newsletter yesterday morning and then came across this poem last night and thought you and other readers would love it: “The Peace of Wild Things” by Scottish poet, Wendell Berry.
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
—
This is exactly how I feel about wild things. I love the animals, but I think —even more— I love the the plants, the mountains, the trees, the water, the sky in all its shades of day and night. Everything that feels bigger and older than me. It all gives me hope and perspective when the world tires me out. Going to nature is the best reset for my soul. That said, I too, am fascinated by people and enjoy getting together with others for deep conversation and connection. Like other posters, I’m more of an ambivert than I ever realized and I think 2020 helped me see how much we need community to move forward. Thanks so much for the prompt — it’s been fun to think about and I’m excited to be a part of this awesome group of humans!