Curt

Lucas:
thank you.

wildeyes-
No kidding! In very specific, short-term, focused, and ritualized (even in a modern sense) instances, I still see the relevance of that outward-and-return hero’s journey. But it does get abused, as you hint at.

I definitely struggle with that thing about family and “running away.” I’m about to graduate university (which, fortunately, I’ve gone to a school relatively close to where I grew up, and even more cool, i go to school where my dad grew up), and have been thinking about where I go next. It seems like everyone I talk to these days wants to move to Portland. I’ve felt the allure of that place, and the fact that folks like you and Urban Scout kick it in that area certainly adds to that draw.

But even though I’ve considered moving out west, I know I’ll always return to this area. This brings me to question why I’d leave in the first place except to fulfill that mythic hero storyline of the one who leaves his village, goes out and gains new knowledge, and then returns triumphant. But everytime I begin to seriously flirt with going so far afield, I feel less sure and scared about it. Then, everytime that fright comes, I have this sense that I should “be a man” and “face my fears” by travelling out there rather than staying within the comfort of this area that I grew up in.

Strange how strongly the civilized thinking pushes me to leave home!

~wildeyes