Enda: Quenya Elvish for heart, meaning centre.
In the early months of the first lockdown, I found in my notebook a short piece of writing about Last Wolf from the very early days and added a few sentences that were relevant to the current worldwide situation. It was never published. Or finished. As we move forward, a new year, a newer lockdown, a new president of the USA this week, I offer it up here. In it, I was trying to figure Last Wolf out, what it was, what it is and what it aims to do.
The Heart is the Centre of the Universe
September 2019
I break down the focus of Last Wolf into three key areas.
Introduction: Of ideas, opinions and thoughts, places, adventure, travel. Of Last Wolf as a company and the things we do. Of people, people who love the outdoors, together under a banner, working together to benefit the soul and the environment. Of wonder and awe and beauty of the world. Last Wolf pack members should be easily recognisable to each other, treating each other with familiarity and respect.
Education: Professionally I work within this field and have done for many years. Last Wolf may therefore naturally have a focus on this. I hope this is always relevant, useful and informative as well as entertaining. I’m learning from this process and I hope throughout it you will be too.
Inspiration: Inspiring outdoors. Let me try and explain what one meaning of this may be. Human culture is filled with examples of people being inspired by nature to do great things. The image of Friedrich’s Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog immediately springs to mind here. Mendelssohn‘s overture The Hebrides, was instantly inspired by his visit to Fingal’s Cave on the island of Staffa. You may not be Friedrich or Mendelssohn but you can be inspired by the outdoors in a similar way that is just as relevant to you and those around you.
Flipping this around though let us not just be inspired by the outdoors. Let us also inspire it, take care of it, look out for the natural world and show it respect. If there is an environmental bright side of lockdown it is surely a global reduction in pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air, less food waste and a greater sense of community. It can be localised too, a faster commute for keyworkers, jellyfish returning to the canals of Venice…
Although we humans have unlimited needs, the planet has a limited capacity to satisfy them all. Let us inspire it. Plant trees, pick litter, live off grid, eat less meat, however you choose to make a difference, do it deliberately.
Live deliberately
Barry
Currently listening to Amon Amarth: Twilight of the Thunder God and wishing I was watching them live!