FINDING HOPE IN LOSS

By CHERYL FOSDICK

This year I lost two studios, one to fire and the other, after 26 years, to developers. If state of mind is born of circumstance setting a stage for how one thinks, I am bewildered, dazed and disoriented — but also as mindful as possible. I am conscious and aware of the consequences. I have departed from daily practices and customs and am focused on new context, revolution and opportunity.

If I were to be trapped, frozen and locked in a single interpretation, if I were mindless and heedless, I might be comfortable in a position of current American attitude — comfortable in The Culture of Assertion and Certainty. In the absence of supporting evidence, I might believe I am a victim wronged, that something rightfully mine has been taken and must be restored, at any cost.

But it is the uncertainty of my situation that keeps me in the here and now. Uncertainty has the power to promote positive change and drive ambition. Chasing a state of mind that is hope compels a kind of purpose and process that leaves no room for blame or hate.

And so, my state of mind will be hope, that I may withstand misfortunes and heartbreaks this year.

“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” — 14th Dalai Lama

There’s a reason the Boundary Waters is America’s most-visited Wilderness. Whether you go for a hike in the woods, paddle along a rocky shoreline, or enjoy a peaceful day by the lake, there’s a place for everyone in the Boundary Waters. A place to experience solitude and adventure; it’s a spiritual and cultural necessity — a relief from the high pressure of modern life.

The Boundary Waters is among the most iconic landscapes in the country, the pinnacle of Minnesota’s outdoor recreation heritage. Millions of people have developed a lifelong love of the outdoors through camping, fishing, paddling, dog sledding, hunting, and hiking experiences in this one-of-a-kind Wilderness. The Boundary Waters has shaped the lives of many. That’s why it’s time to protect it now and for future generations.

At a time when things feel so uncertain, let’s protect the important things we can. The Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters is fighting to protect the Boundary Waters from risky sulfide-ore copper mining just upstream of the Wilderness. Join us in preserving this unique Wilderness for generations to come.

Take action to protect the Wilderness: SavetheBoundaryWaters.org