Breathe (Poem)

She sat at the back and they said she was shy,

She led from the front and they hated her pride,

They asked her advice and then questioned her guidance,

They branded her loud, then were shocked by her silence,

When she shared no ambition they said it was sad,

So she told them her dreams and they said she was mad,

They told her they'd listen, then covered their ears,

And gave her a hug while they laughed at her fears,

And she listened to all of it thinking she should,

Be the girl they told her to be best as she could,

But one day she asked what was best for herself,

Instead of trying to please everyone else,

So she walked to the forest and stood with the trees,

She heard the wind whisper and dance with the leaves,

She spoke to the willow, the elm and the pine,

And she told them what she'd been told time after time,

She told them she felt she was never enough,

She was either too little or far far too much,

Too loud or too quiet, too fierce or too weak,

Too wise or too foolish, too bold or too meek,

Then she found a small clearing surrounded by firs,

And she stopped...and she heard what the trees said to her,

And she sat there for hours not wanting to leave,

For the forest said nothing, it just let her breathe.

 

 ~ Becky Helmsley

Nanuk - 2024

Nanuk or Nanook = Polar Bear

The Inuit people say the polar bear symbolizes strength, power and leadership. Of family and togetherness. They are a reminder to stay curious and always be learning. The appearance of the polar bear signifies a fresh start and is a good omen. 

It is said that this animal is a messenger of change in your life. If you are in need of renewal or reorganization, the bear spirit guide will be your ally. Its presence encourages making decisions and being proactive.

Given that 2023 has been heavy on redefining purpose, changing goals, digging deep within (Coach Erin Kirk to thank for this) and working on taking our relationship to a new level (The Gottman Institute to thank for this), it probably now makes sense that I was drawn to the far reaches of planet earth once more; to venture off the beaten path and go in search of wildlife, geography and an environment that is, by all accounts, challenging yet rewarding. Fragile yet undeniably strong and resilient and beautiful. It also makes sense that I wanted Mark to share that with me. 

In addition to personal growth... or maybe it lead me here too... I entered the world of permaculture in 2023. 

What is permaculture?

Permaculture integrates land, resources, people and the environment through mutually beneficial synergies – imitating the no waste, closed loop systems seen in diverse natural systems. It is a multidisciplinary toolbox.

Permaculture is a philosophy more than a set of rules and I found that it was easily applied to not just my garden, but my relationships, my work, the way I see myself sharing, borrowing, creating and living here. Permaculture taught me that life is most diverse, colorful, vibrant around the "edges" of any environment. Where one environment meets another environment and they interact, life just gets more interesting!

So, back to the polar bears: There are only 2-3 really reliable places to watch a polar bear in the wild. Svalbard, north of Norway is reportedly great and so is some place in northern Alaska. But Churchill, Manitoba (Canada) is considered the polar bear capital of the world. 

1000 kilometers north of Winnipeg, on the edge of Hudson Bay, Churchill is an 800 person town that is accessible only by rail or air - still easier to get to than Svalbard mind you. The area is unique. It's where the boreal forest, the tundra and the marine environment all meet. The EDGES are phenomenal here and this makes for wildlife magic, environmental magic and being sub-Arctic with little to no light pollution, it's considered the northern lights capital by many, too.

The people of Churchill share their space with bears all year long. However, in October and November, as the fresh water from the Churchill and Nelson rivers mixed with the sea water on the edge of the bay begins to freeze, and before it's cold enough for the 100% sea water to freeze, the bears make their way to the edge of land and wait. They long for the time that the bay is a vast expanse of sea ice again so they can spend the winter huntin' seals! And we long to see them hanging out in higher numbers than otherwise likely.

As you may have guessed, Mark and I just booked a trip to Churchill, to see polar bears. This is huge. Polar bears, while not actually endangered, are a threatened species and their long term survival is looking a bit grim given that they cannot adapt quickly enough to the loss of their environment as a result of climate change. Every year, the sea ice melts a little sooner spring and freezes a little later in the fall.

We booked with Natural Habitat - Boulder CO! Once of just a few companies who run these trips, they have a strong focus on education, conservation and giving back. "Conservation through Exploration". They partner with a company that lives in Churchill and operates the Tundra Buggy side of polar bear viewing trips.

October 27th, 2024 will see us meet up with the rest of our small NatHab group in Winnipeg. We fly to Churchill the 28th and having picked the Photo Adventure, will base ourselves at a local inn at Churchill but spend the majority of the trip aboard a Tundra Buggy.  More about these little marvels later. The plan is to get up close and personal - while staying a safe distance from these giant, hungry and extraordinarily beautiful predators. 

More about polar bears here.

I'll be taking 5000 pictures of course!  I'll definitely go over my camera gear and other gear in a post much closer to the time. 

For now, we are keeping our plans under wraps. Its a long way off and we have a lot of YouTube to watch and a diverse array of traveler info to ingest between now and then. It's also a trip that most people wouldn't dream of taking and of those that do, few can justify the cost. We are aware, on so many levels, how fortunate and privileged we are. Not everyone will have the opportunity to head to the frozen tundra to watch the world go by, before the environment up there is forever changed. 

For me, this is another huge bucket list item and of course, the gratitude floweth over! Deeper than that, runs my gratitude for Mark. His unwavering support of my big dreams and his sense of adventure means I get to share all of my big emotions about this with a partner who is by my side and smiling too.

I know when I get cold, he'll be there to warm me. When I can't contain my joy, he'll totally understand why. Years after this trip, we'll be able to flip through pictures and recall memories together. 

That's special.

In the meantime... perhaps, like me, there is room in your day for a few borrowed pictures from those who have gone before us, inspired and motivated us, educated us too.

(Yeah, I'd be over the moon if I had any pictures this great!!!)