180° South or North in Her Case

     There is this clip during my sister's and my favorite documentary, 180 Degrees South, where it is said, "Well what happens when you get to the edge of the cliff. Do you take one step forward or do 180° turn and take one step forward? Which way you goin? Which is progress?' The solution to many of the world's problems maybe to turn around and to take a forward step. You can't just keep trying to make a flawed system work." - Douglas Tompkins

     I am lounged with my socked toes perched on the dashboard of our rental car that is precariously parked atop a cliff watching the waves and glancing every few moments at our bright yellow tent to see if my sister has awoken. This morning, after a restful nights sleep on the sandy shore of the beach, I felt inspired to write.I can't help but draw connections between my sister's journey and the 180 Degrees South documentary. So, I have come here to witness my sister's transition and take part on an adventure as she journeys from Seward, Alaska to a remote island off the coast of Kodiak called Raspberry Island. It is there, on that remote island, that she will be working as a hiking and sea kayaking guide. I know.... right?!

     Taking a few steps back, 4 months back, I can't help but examine her decision and what led her to this place in this very moment in time. She was working a job that she had pursued with all that she had. Recently she had even been promoted from a police officer to a detective, which was the precise reason why she had gotten into law enforcement. She was great at her job and helped so many of the people that she served until one day she decided that she was simply no longer happy. She was tired of combatting and witnessing so much evil, it was as she simply stated "time to see some beauty."

    She dug her heals into the hard ground, shifted that body weight, and swung 180°. She applied and was hired for a seasonal minimum wage position in Alaska (where I am convinced that every nature photograph and film is shot given it's unfathomable diverse beauty). She donated every material procession that had her name on it, sold her car, put in her notice at work, and packed what she could into a backpack.

     This is where I need to insert my opinion. It is this: there may be no other act that is as inspiring as reaching "success" in our modern culture, deciding it's not your definition of success, and changing your life. Life is too short to live in such a way that you are aware that there is something greater and yet you don't fully pursue it. She has been a living example to me to fully be true to myself, even in the face of fear and excuses.

    So this morning I watch the waves lap on to the shore, breaking into a white splash over the jagged rocks yet smoothing the sandy shore before retreating. I take notice that from inside the car where I sit a bumble bee struggles to find an exit as he paces back and fourth on the transparent window. After pacing back and fourth for over twenty minutes, wings flapping angrily. He ascends off the window, turns 180°, and fly's out the open car window beside me.