Thanks Nia and Lee for again leading off the discussion with thoughtful comments. Yes, I think "baggage" came to mind before I decided "backstory" was more appropriate. And I was thinking of my own immediate reaction: that my desire for more knowledge of the creature we were looking at made my experience of nature "better" than hers... when what I was really celebrating was knowledge, education, etc., rather than nature. Upon reflection I wondered if her satisfaction with ignorance reflected a greater love and even a "better" experience.
What a tremendously good question prompt, one I'll have to think about. What comes to mind first is Barry Lopez's heartbreaking essay "Sliver of Sky" about how nature saved him during a childhood of abuse.
My younger kid is deeply in love with wolves. I took them to Yellowstone in late September a few years ago and we joined the 5 a.m. crowd on a hillside with spotting scopes. People rag on those crowds a lot but it was not a bad thing, really, to be amongst people only there because of their love and respect for wolves. I was thinking of taking my family back in April or May this year.
Since you're bringing in the thought of romance, I will begin by saying that BG (Before Gwen), when I was exploring on-line dating services, I would frequently come upon profiles alleging that the author had left behind all her "baggage." I always scrolled on.
I think it is possible (though probably not the best way) to define any of us and our behavior as the reflection of our accumulated "baggage." And if I need to see a wolf where I expect to see one, I might turn more than just a coyote into that wolf.
In my mind, the question is not whether "backstories" affect our interaction with nature, but how we move past our "baggage" and truly see, with that seeing hopefully being a gateway to understanding.
Thanks Nia and Lee for again leading off the discussion with thoughtful comments. Yes, I think "baggage" came to mind before I decided "backstory" was more appropriate. And I was thinking of my own immediate reaction: that my desire for more knowledge of the creature we were looking at made my experience of nature "better" than hers... when what I was really celebrating was knowledge, education, etc., rather than nature. Upon reflection I wondered if her satisfaction with ignorance reflected a greater love and even a "better" experience.
What a tremendously good question prompt, one I'll have to think about. What comes to mind first is Barry Lopez's heartbreaking essay "Sliver of Sky" about how nature saved him during a childhood of abuse.
My younger kid is deeply in love with wolves. I took them to Yellowstone in late September a few years ago and we joined the 5 a.m. crowd on a hillside with spotting scopes. People rag on those crowds a lot but it was not a bad thing, really, to be amongst people only there because of their love and respect for wolves. I was thinking of taking my family back in April or May this year.
Since you're bringing in the thought of romance, I will begin by saying that BG (Before Gwen), when I was exploring on-line dating services, I would frequently come upon profiles alleging that the author had left behind all her "baggage." I always scrolled on.
I think it is possible (though probably not the best way) to define any of us and our behavior as the reflection of our accumulated "baggage." And if I need to see a wolf where I expect to see one, I might turn more than just a coyote into that wolf.
In my mind, the question is not whether "backstories" affect our interaction with nature, but how we move past our "baggage" and truly see, with that seeing hopefully being a gateway to understanding.