One of Many
One seemingly insignificant decision but in the overall scheme of things it was life changing…
The decision wasn’t even mine. When I was nine years old my parents decided to send me to summer camp. Without a shadow of a doubt, this single decision shaped my identity to its core. The path I have chosen, my destiny, can be traced directly back to the seeds which were planted at camp many years ago.
One of many of the buds these summers germinated was love: “ahavat haaretz” (love of the land), nature and “chevere” (camaraderie). We would backpack for two, three days at a time. Hiking, singing, crafting, sweating and at times moaning and groaning, but we would always, always end our days back at the “medura” (campfire) casting our spells, spinning stories together into the wee hours of the morn.
The spark for action was conceived there at the “medura” and it continues to burn till this day: action to build a better world from the inside out. Usually the action manifests itself via work within ideological movements, although, at times, the action is contained in the movement itself.
There is nothing quite like spending time in nature: hiking, running, biking, exploring and even sweating is part and parcel of the high.
Nothing fills me with more frustration than sitting in a closed room and performing a repetitive monotonous task. When given a choice, I will always choose the outdoors. Time stands still every time I mount my two wheeled chariot. It is amazing how each outing leads me to discover yet another priceless jewel here in my own “backyard”.
A solitary trek will deliver peace of mind and tranquility.
Many of one too brings its own special magical qualities.
Fond memories of time spent with the “chevre” forever blanket me in their warmth. All of the hikes, explorations, “bikings” and journeys with all of my peeps intertwined weave the fabric of this blanket. Together, every emotion is enhanced, every physical effort becomes easier, more gratifying. It is amazing, is it not, how we manage to demand more from ourselves when we are together with the “chevre”?
Desert memories in motion radiate brightly. After some nine summers at camp I joined other “chanichim” (campers) from all over North America to spend one very long summer, one year to be exact, on a kibbutz in Israel. Not long ago I rediscovered some slides taken on a trip to the Sinai before it was returned to Egypt shortly thereafter. The beauty of these photos is stunning: once in a lifetime treasures. Together we climbed exuberantly the desert peaks all the while ranting and raving, singing and shouting our praises for each pristine genesis moment.
The annual Sodom Mountain race by the Dead Sea also provided me with abundant memories. Every year we would head down south with a car packed full of children and bikes to join many others to bike around the pristine desert caves and crevices. It was immensely gratifying to finish the race with both bikes and babes intact.
My guy works within the plastic industry. Sometime ago he was fatally struck down with a severe case of the “bikebug”. He and one of his partners, with a similar affliction, sought to treat ailing workers within the industry. They schemed to gather them together for a “bikefest” in the Beit Keshet forest together with a barbeque in the woods. It was a spectacular day: so spectacular indeed, that they chose to make this an annual event.
The first “bikefest” or “Plast-O-Fun” had a turnout of some forty or fifty people. Yesterday there was a total of approximately 350 bikers! Within the sea of bicycles it was easy to distinguish the workers from the various plants by their unique custom jerseys: a deep ocean with islands of color heavily scattered about.
The tradition continues and grows stronger from year to year. Today the various plastic plants fight for the honor to host the event. Inspiring it was to see the spectacular organization in place: numbered routes by level; double guides per group; coffee, pastry and T shirts at the start and a feast fit for a king at the finish.
With movement we find health.
As we perspire we inspire happiness. Our body releases endorphins, “happy rains”. The release of “Happ-phins” compounds when we move together. Movement outside of the walls of our compounds in nature adds shades of colors, joy and fun fun fun!
Not long ago I heard about a local plant’s initiative to promote physical activity via subsidies. A healthier and happier worker will surely reward his employer with added value.