A Walk in the Woods

Recently, my daughter coaxed me into taking a personality test. She and I love to delve into the depths of our own and other family members "psyche." We learn, we laugh, we ponder. (Psychology and trying to understand why people do crazy or even heinous acts fascinate us...that's why we watch all those kinds of shows and documentaries.) But with our kindred circle, it's always in a non-judgmental tone and we often account for the characters in our family being slightly "off " as simply due to their astrological inclinations. We keep it all lighthearted and without malice or intent, though. Just some silly projects the two of us like sharing.

So, I took the test!

Now, before I go on with my story, if you are interested, I would encourage you to take the test now, before going further, so your answers/analysis won't be skewed. It's very simple and straightforward, requiring you to only answer with what pops into your head...don't overthink! This is the you-tube video we followed:

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I was happy to grab the big hand of my son to walk into the woods with! It brought me peace and I always feel protected when he is by my side. As we journeyed, we spotted a large doe grazing in the shrubs. She sensed we were close by...maybe she smelled us, as animals have those keener abilities. Her tail wiggled in alert. We stood silently, in awe of our sighting. There was no fear she would attack. It wasn't her nature. She would more likely run off, if need be. This, she eventually did.

As we journeyed deeper into the woods, we came upon a medium sized cabin, clean and inviting. There was no fence. We were too curious not to knock and enter. It beckoned us to do just that. Upon opening the door, we noticed the beautifully crafted wooden table which took up the majority of the room. There was no food placed, but the place settings were immaculately adorned with a beautiful gold, yellow, and green floral centerpiece. It appeared ready for a warm, family gathering. But there were currently no inhabitants.

We made our way to the back door which would lead us along our trek and back home. There was a big deck where the family that wasn't there would most likely sit to enjoy one another. A vegetable garden outlined the deck, as well as wild flowers. But, out of place, we came upon a coffee mug. A sturdy, heavy one made of porcelain. It was obvious it was masculine. The color was a deep, dark green. I walked past it, not wanting to disturb it. But my son leaned down to pick it up which, truthfully made me feel uneasy. I didn't want him to carry it. I didn't belong to him. But he ignored my plea. He took it anyway.

Making our way on the last leg of our adventure, we heard the bubbling trickle of water. It was soothing. Then we saw the winding creek, wider and deeper in some places, but mostly just a gentle moving on top of the rocks I could see on the bottom of the clear wetness. I don't remember how my son got across, but I decided to just leap over to the other side and didn't get a drop of water on my feet at all, feeling quite accomplished considering to my age.

The Analysis:

The person you walk with is symbolic of currently the most important relationship in your life. That makes sense. My son and I, both single adults, live together. He takes care of things I no longer am physically able to, like yard work, maintenance, heavy lifting, etc. Doing those chores is his way of showing his love for me. Even though I deeply appreciate it, a part of me feels a twinge of guilt for the sacrifice I know he gave. He moved here from another state to help me, to make sure my golden years were the best and safest they could be. That's why the coffee mug was an emotional picture of my concerns for him and the burden he carries.

I wasn't surprised at all over the house in the woods and the table inside. I never had inclinations to amass anything but love on a grandeur level. I just wanted to have a home where my children wanted to come and share that love. Honestly, though, my dreams of family gatherings never seem to go as planned. Whether it be distance from geography or distance from relational bickering, those aspirations have fallen short. There were no fences keeping others out and never will be, though. I will always have love to offer at my table.

What did surprise me though was my "inner animal's" approach to problems. Most of the time, I try to remain calm, but I do seem to be on alert more than I'd like to admit. Maybe I should just call that awareness and wisdom. Run away? I wouldn't exactly say that, but probably would remove myself from immediate conflict until I could sense safety or resolution.

And the water scenario...well, this made me laugh out loud! Having loved a swim or two in my younger years, I'm totally over that; now, preferring only dry land!

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**Hope you took the test and enjoyed your personal insights, too**