Green Tribe of Belonging

 For the past several weeks, a tiny picnic table has been sitting right outside my front door. It was carefully placed there by my neighbor, 7 year old Fiona. On top of it is a selection of raisins and other edibles in the hopes that it will lure the chipmunk who runs rapidly across my porch several times a day. Although I see the chipmunk through my screen door, Fiona has yet to be here at the right time. Here at Prairie Hill, we are getting used to seeing Fiona walking around with all her observation accouterments: binoculars, bug spray, notebook and pen, bird whistle, and flashlight. We know that she is a big fan of Jane Goodall, and it is easy to think of her as the Nature Girl. One day there was a baby rabbit looking in at my front door, and I called Fiona over. She came promptly and was politely attentive, but I realized that a baby rabbit, no matter how enchanting it was to me, was not what she was looking for. I decided to find out more, and I asked her over to my porch for...

O Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the winds and whose breath gives life to all the world. Hear me! I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever hold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. Help me remain calm and strong in the face of all that comes towards me. Help me find compassion without empathy overwhelming me. I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy: myself. Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame. Translated by Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark in 1887 Source: https://rootscov.org/native-american-heritage-month/

 The whole idea of introverts and extroverts is a fairly new conversation in our culture. When I was a kid, I never thought about which category I fit into. It wasn't until adulthood that I began to notice I was far more comfortable in a small intimate group of one or two than a big crowd. I'd excitedly sign up for an intriguing workshop, only to realize when I made my way through the crowd of attendees that I really didn't like big groups of people. For a long time, I was influenced by our cultural preference for extroverts, and I felt that it was probably a failing to not be one. But now there are many sources of information about both sides of the personality spectrum, and I actually feel fine about being an introvert. It doesn't mean I don't like people. People are really, really important to me. The real defining feature to me is that if I'm with a large socializing group of people, it wears me out. I can do it. I've learned how to function in those set...