Memories Of Wars
At the encouragement of readers, and perhaps against my better judgment, I’ll be sharing more of my journal entries from the wild.
This one is for the wounded, for the damaged, for anyone carved with scar tissue, literal or emotional. You know who you are. You are the soldiers, the survivors, the keepers of secrets, the pretenders, the unsung heroes, the unrequited lovers, the quiet voices of sanity. You, who know that honor and pain and sacrifice are rewarded not with medals but with the simple feat of being at peace with yourself. You, who are repaid by seeing others prosper from your labors. You, who have been through hell, who have come to realize the truth and found that it was not what you were told to believe and had the mettle to start over.
Let me tell you about the bonds between soldiers that no one else can understand, about the pain of yearning, the loneliness of the brave, the invisibility of altruism, the haunting silence of the departed, and the importance of fear. Let me tell you about the lies of war, about the memories that will never go away, about the emptiness, the regrets, the doubts, the sleepless nights, the love that was and the love that will never be and the love that remains. Then again, if you’ve been there yourself – you already know.
Take it from a soldier, a drifter, a man living borrowed lives. Take it from a courageous coward, a spiritual atheist, a hopeful fatalist, a sociable recluse, a militant pacifist. Take if from me – there is a place where it all makes sense, a place where all the truths and lies and misconceptions converge and resolve, where all the man-made chaos dissolves into a clear, consistent, meaningful existence; a place where the literal and spiritual coexist as equals, a place where you can safely break down and put yourself together again and come away healed; a place where you can summon ghosts, where you can relive the pain unharmed, where you can forgive… yourself.
For some it may be the peaks of mountains, or ancient forests, or anonymous trails in foreign lands. For me, it is the deserts and plateaus of the American Southwest. For any troubled soul there is a place in the wild, a place of solitude and peace and natural order, unlike any city, and exactly because it is unlike any city.
Category: Journal
A great thing to read Guy. The wild has definitely gotten me through things.
Beautiful writing as always, Guy.
Powerful words, and delicately composed, Guy. It’s great to hear your personal thoughts, and to get a glimpse into your past. In many ways I’m grateful that I cannot truly relate, and yet, your writing is so well presented that I still feel it inside.
City life robs us of peace. There is no substitute for the healing that takes place by simply being in a favorite place in the wild. Such a touching post and the image powerfully fits. The tree looks so hopeful…
I believe it is a signing of the healing when you can extend the hand of hope and encouragement to the ones following behind you on the trail. Beautiful writing, Guy.
What a powerful statement, Guy. This should be seen and read by more than just your friends and fans.
Very powerful words Guy. You bring forth so much emotion and mental imagery with so few words. Thank you for sharing such deep thoughts and emotions. I agree that more people should have the pleasure of experiencing your work. Your writing and images together are just an incredible combination. You are truly inspiring.
Wayne
Very, very powerful and evocative writing, Guy. While I don’t share the tumultuous history behind your words, I share the peace and healing feelings of the wild and open places.
It can’t be easy for you to share these thoughts in such a public place, but thanks for doing so. The sharing is very much appreciated!
Harley
Guy,
Great statement, and insight on your nature. Like others, I have not experienced what you have, but reading it, it feels great to have nature as an outlet for many of the day to day problems, and other major issues.
Always great to see your images, and writings!
Hey Guy,
As always, you express so perfectly how we all experience the world. Your work is a gift to us. Thanks.
Cheers
Carl
Nicely put, Guy. There is a flip side to the healing of wilderness, however: nature can be cold and uncaring. If we seek its solitude and peace we also have to be prepared for its unforgiving apathy. Ultimately, it’s our bonds with others that make us human.
Beautiful and true. I very much enjoyed this entry.
Daniel