Let me introduce myself:

My name is Humphrey and I was born in 1993 in Flagstaff, Arizona USA.

Currently living in Cottonwood, AZ, with my Mom and Dad, by the way of Florida and Hawaii; don't ask!

Explained through my stories?

Maybe....

You'll just have to follow my tales each month.

LESSONS  LEARNED

In October I celebrate being 20 years old. 

Good bye teen years!

Hello maturity (maybe). 

My friends surprised me with a birthday party.

Mom and Dad gave me an envelope with my name on it. 

Could there be keys to a car inside?

Or, a gift card for my favorite restaurant?

I opened the envelope.

It was for a special retreat in the forest for a few days. My friends already knew because they bought me hiking boots, a fishing pole and a camouflage jacket.

This was my first survival test to experience alone. 

I hope I live to be 21.

I was driven to the edge of the forest and after a long hike it was time to make a camp site for the night.

I zipped up my jacket to keep warm and found a shelter of trees to keep out of the wind.

I am wondering, will anybody see me in this camouflage jacket?

Or will I be lost among the trees?

The next morning a mule deer spotted me and gave me a ride to a pond to gather water for my journey.

LESSON LEARNED:

accept help when offered.

Now my courage was being tested because my survival depended only on me.

I was alone.

I climbed up on some rocks to get a better view, ignoring my surroundings until I realized I was NOT alone!

While looking into the eyes of what I thought was an angry mountain lion who probably liked bear meat, I took a second look just to be sure.

I was wrong!

He was smiling and just wanted someone to share his day.

By thinking twice, I'm still alive. 

LESSON LEARNED: do not judge on my first impression.

By mid-day I was hungry.

I sat down along the river with my fishing pole and waited and waited.

Thoughts came to mind; if Mom and Dad had given me a gift card to my favorite restaurant, I would be ordering fish instead of trying to catch a fish. 

The sun must have affected me because I thought I saw myself on the fish I was trying to catch.

No luck fishing but there were bushes full of berries along the river banks and that satisfied my hunger.

LESSON LEARNED: improvise when necessary.

My last night in the forest was relaxing and I was proud of my decisions. 

Morning arrived and it was time to leave.

I followed my trail passing the river and the rocks returning to the area where my journey began.

I was safe - or so I thought.

From the corner of my eye
I saw a mother bear watching me. 

Respecting her territory I stopped in my tracks.

What to do?

Where was my courage?

Remembering the mountain lion, I smiled!

She was satisfied that I was no threat and she motioned for her two cubs to come out of hiding and meet me.

LESSON LEARNED: mutual trust.

We shared the rest of the day becoming special friends and exchanging hugs.

LESSON LEARNED:  love

I waved good bye just as the sun was setting.

I stepped out of the forest and saw Mom and Dad waiting with open arms - more hugs!

This was the best birthday ever!

It was a gift of 'lessons learned' through experiences; a symbol of 'coming of age.' 

My reward is the knowledge that I have courage, compassion and the will to survive. 

Thank you, Mom and Dad

P.S. But, can I still borrow the keys to the car once in a while?

Pat Lyons - Humphrey's Mom

Free Spirit Creations

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