Male

30

I don't have the time to write a bio at the moment, but the following letter, written in January 2006, should give you some idea of the type of person I am.

I was going to pick up where I left off, biking the coast of Oaxaca about a year and a half ago. I could write about my time in Chiapas and the current political climate among the Zapatistas, the mountain school where I was supposed to teach, or the family I stayed with in Comitan. I could write about all the wonderful places I was able to visit: Mayan ruins, rainforests, waterfalls, volcanoes, lakes and rivers. I could write about how I made it to San Pedro, the day to day adventures and all the interesting people I met along the way. Hopefully one day I’ll get it all out.

For now, I’d rather go into some more recent developments in my life. I’ve spent the bulk of this last year working as the campaign organizer for the Sustainable Forestry Network. The goal of the organization is to bring about an end to the highly destructive practices of clearcutting and chemical spraying in the forests of Oregon. It’s definitely an uphill battle and the work has taken a lot out of me. There are some very positive and exciting developments in the field of eco-forestry. More and more operations are managing their lands without the use of chemicals or clearcuts. They are able to provide more and better job opportunities for Oregon’s forest workers, while increasing the diversity of the forest ecosystems and still making a profit. Unfortunately sustainable operations are still an extreme minority and, as with all environmental problems, the general public has very little truthful information about the current rate of destruction and the urgency of the situation at hand. “I’m sorry folks, but buying a Prius is not going to stop global warming. Recycling does not cancel out massive over-consumption, and a Greenpeace membership does not make you an environmentalist.” Trying to convince Americans that our way of life is not socially, environmentally, or economically sustainable can definitely take its toll and as I’ve had to cope with the anger and depression that seems to plague environmental and social activists, I am forced to step back and reflect on the bigger picture.

The human race and a large number of other species may in fact be on the brink of extinction. On the other hand, it is entirely possible that our resource based economy will not be able to withstand the end of the age of oil. The simple principles of supply and demand may force human communities back to a localized agricultural base and drastically limit our consumption level, giving the planet a chance to heal. We are facing a difficult transition period, but the end result could be a vast improvement over our current situation. Of course economic collapse just one of an infinite number of possible manifestations of change, but even if we have past the point of no return and are headed full speed to a self-fulfilling prophecy of the apocalypse, what does it ultimately represent but a transition of energy? Life cannot be destroyed. This is a realization I came to many years back and was reinforced during my time in Africa.

The night after having been discharged from the hospital in Nairobi I had an experience, an epiphany of sorts that changed my entire outlook on life. This is something I often loose sight of trying to keep in step with the chaos of the modern world. How I came to that point is a very long and complex history, which I won’t attempt to communicate here. The important point is that I was in a position of complete helplessness, physically incapacitated, penniless, and isolated in a foreign city thousands of miles from any type of support base. I was in a great deal of pain. I could hardly remain standing for more than a few moments and as I lay in bed, I could feel the violence of my urban surroundings penetrating each of my bodily senses. My identity as self was being drowned out in the sensation and I knew that the future course of my existence depended upon an immediate decision. Either there was an intrinsic meaning to each and every aspect of life, or there was complete and total insanity.

The explanation for the seeming injustice that surrounds us may remain a mystery for some time yet, but the acceptance that such an explanation does in fact exist was at that time the only thing that would allow me to cope with my situation. I made the logical choice and ascribed my faith to the universe. Since that time, discipline and patience have been the guiding principles of my life; the discipline to remain focused on the path that I have chosen and the patience to endure the pain and suffering that comes with it.

This year my primary focus is on physical and spiritual healing, in the form of yoga and meditation. I will continue to struggle with the same issues that I have taken on over the last several years, but I have decided that my ability to work effectively is greatly enhanced when I’m not feeling overwhelmed by my own personal physical and emotional trauma. I am continuing with several other forms of therapy, including chiropractic, massage, acupuncture, sports medicine, rolfing, etc. My experiences have been teaching me a great deal about the human body, energy fields, and different healing techniques, which I consider invaluable education. I still have a way to go, but I am feeling very positive about the direction in which I am heading. I’m sure many of you have some exciting New Year resolutions that I would love to hear about. In the meantime I hope that this letter finds you all in the best of spirits.

Peace, Love, and Blessings to all, Nathaniel

P.S. I realize that these experiences will not impress you as they have me. Some things can only be experienced first hand, but I would still love to hear any thoughts, emotions, questions or criticism that my words may have evoked. Whether you were entertained, inspired, annoyed, or nauseated, I would appreciate your response. I would also be interested in any stories that you might like to share. Shraddha