The Jungle Always Wins

Blog entry from my Wordpress site

THE JUNGLE ALWAYS WINS

May 3, 2015

Living here among the vines changes you, as a person.  I cannot quite put my finger on it yet, how this happens…but it does happen.  This humid, green, quiet place calms you in a way that unless you experience it yourself, you cannot understand. The more you fight it, the harder it presses in.  The jungle always wins.

We lost power here for 36 hours due to a downed tree.  I have to admit here that it really got to me.  I had a difficult time and was acting like a spoiled little city-princess and wanted my internet/lights back.  Now that it has been restored " and I have had a chance to reflect " I have realized that I was trying to fight the jungle.  I need to remember where I live, why I live here and adjust my thinking and expectations.  Fighting only makes me miserable, the jungle does not care and will not adjust to me.  It rains a lot here, the ground gets saturated, the wind blows, trees fall and power poles go down.  We are fortunate that the work crews worked so hard to restore service to the area so quickly "  considering the rough terrain on the ridge where this particular pole was damaged.  The workmen had to hike in, clear a path and create a pad for a helicopter to land so that more men and the supplies needed could get to the damaged power lines.

Yes, being without power was a pain.  I am learning how to just be in this special place and take each day a moment at a time. In the rain, wind, mud, or without a way to charge my kindle " I need to be content.  In every situation.  I am a work in progress and need to take my cues from the vast greenery outside my window; Enjoy the sun while it lasts.  Soak up the rain when it falls and stand tall, reach for the sky, and just be.

~Lola

Author's Note

Curious to get some feedback on my blog entries. Here is one I did recently. Thank you in advance for reading and critiquing. ~Lola

Reviews

[Sesame]

Hi Lola,

Well-written! I have never been to the jungle before, but this gives me an idea. It reminds you how small and powerless you are against nature, doesn't it. Is there more to this story? Why does she live there? One small suggestion: "work crews worked" I would lose the first "work" because from the verb it is evident that it applies to that kind of crew. Well done!

Regards, Sesame

@followsesame on Twitter
www.themagiccave.com

[Lola Nevius]

Thank you for your tip re: the sentence regarding the work crews working...lol I do tend to be a bit wordy, and with my blog I do not proof as well as I should. But I totally agree with your correction - it just reads better.

Is there more to the story, oh hell yes. This is not fiction but my real life, day to day. The picture on the post is my every day view out my window above my computer monitors. My blog hopefully will continue to tell my story. Thank you so much for the review!! ~Lola

[Coyote Poetry]

I understand this story. I spend three year in South and Central American as a soldiers. Your story is true. Nature is cold and heartless. I prefer cold over heat. Heat is just misery. I liked the story. Thank you for sharing the excellent story.
Coyote

[Lola Nevius]

While the humidity is great here on the east side of the island, it is remarkably cool. I agree with you - heat is miserable and I too prefer cold to oppressive heat. Thank goodness for the tradewinds here in Hawaii, they make the difference between comfort and misery. ~Lola

[Coyote Poetry]

At least you have the ocean. I love the sea.

[Robert Parlange]

I can relate to that feeling of “jungle.” While Louisiana gets a taste of the seasons, it is still 80% Amazonian.
I spent some time in Hawaii when I was in the Navy. I envy you.

[Lola Nevius]

Hawaii is truly a beautiful and special place, but there are drawbacks and exchanges to be made. But as I get older, I am realizing that this is true no matter where you live. It all depends on you and where you place you expectations. Thank you for your comments! ~Lola