Stuck In The Coconut Race

There's an old story about a European man who was visiting an island. One day he saw an indigenous man lounging underneath a coconut tree, eating a coconut. 

"Why don't you get out from under that tree," he said, "and make something of yourself? Bad enough you sit around all day, but you're not contributing to society. Why don't you get up for once? Gather some of the coconuts, put them in a basket, and sell them to visitors on the island."

The man looked at him quizzically. "For what?" he asked. 

"Well," explained the European. "When you sell enough coconuts, you can get rid of your basket and buy a cart."

"For what?" asked the man. 

"When your coconut business really takes off, you can hire a few local men to sell coconuts with their own cart, and take a cut of their earnings."

Again the man asked, "For what?"

"Once you make enough money, you can retire, and then you won't need to work again."

The man smiled gently, and replied "What do I need to do all that for? That's what I'm already doing." 

Remember When Infection Killed?

I think about this man, his shade and his coconuts a lot. Modern civilization, and all that implies, has given us tremendous blessings. Just thinking about how a mere infection could have killed me years ago, blows my mind and makes me feel incredibly grateful for modern medicine, as just one example. 

I'm by no means deploring the churn of progress. But it would be disingenuous to fail to notice that progress has come with some costs. 

Taxes aren't new, but tearing your hair out over TurboTax, yeah, that's new. Traffic tickets. Parking tickets. Social media? Entirely new concept, and so are the problems we're now learning are associated with it. News isn't new, but the constant, blaring 24-hour news cycle most definitely is. I could go on, but you already know the things I'm talking about. 

On Women's Land: Less Is More

In the 21st century, the simple art of conversation we used to take for granted is often polarized. For young women in our 20s, many of us are just trying to keep our heads above water. One thing everyone can agree on is there are precious few opportunities to slow down and breathe. 

Women's land is one of the places where women, especially lesbians, can do that. 

On women's land, you will encounter women who aren't plugged into their phones. Women who know how to have a real conversation. You will be able to put your hands in the dirt. Sit out in the sun. Or the shade, it's your pleasure. Have tea and play board games. Cook together. 

While it's not a monolith, many of the women on women's land have opted out of the coconut race. They're too busy finding joy in the present moment.   

If you've been feeling stuck, and generally lacking in zest and verve, why not try it out? Take a leap of faith and contact a women's land near you to get more information about what they're up to, and how you might be able to come down for a visit and see what it's all about.  

If you are a woman in your 20s , and you want to find out how to contact women's lands that are still operating near you in 2023, click "Women's Land Map" in the menu. Expect to be vetted. If there isn't a women's land listed in your state yet, email me at findwomensland at gmail dot com for help finding women's land you may be able to visit near you.