Tree of Souls - An Avatar Community Forum - "You grew up hearing about it, but I never figured i'd be going there."

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As some of you may or may not know, in just 8 hours, i'm due to be departing for a 10-week adventure in the Bornean rainforest. Volunteering on a whole range of different activities, from helping to build schools to replanting of logged rainforest as well as intensive trekking through large parts or still remote and unexplored rainforest.

Of course, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity (hopefully not literally speaking though ;)) And needless to say, i'm hugely excited and extremely grateful to be doing something like this. To even have the opportunity to do something like this, especially the way I feel about things following Avatar's impact on my life and outlook on it.

But the drive I had to go on this adventure, the belief that I could go ahead and do it, that I could actually achieve it came in no small part from you guys. All of the people here on ToS, and originally, on AF.

You all helped me in my time of need. In the times of bad, there were always people there to hear my cry for help and offered nothing but unflinching help, support and pure friendship. 3 things that, in those times - when you feel so alone, deserted and isolated with no real voice to express yourself, or a person who understands fully, what it is you're suffering with - make you feel so much comfort and warmth in your situation even if it seems bleak. It's nice to know that someone cares, or that maybe someone else feels the same way.

But more than this amazing support, the people here taught me that this world is still worth trying to save, that there are still people who want to fight to salvage and bring back what remains of the true human. Love, compassion, care and the daring to put other - far more important things - ahead of yourself... and to be willing to make sacrifices for that cause. They showed me that this Earth that each and every single one of us lives on, as human beings, is also still worth battling for, still in a possible situation of huge potential and existing glory, although as badly in need of repair and help that she is. And (as cynical as some here may remain, for various reasons) with the help of many people here, I discovered my own spirituality, renewed the connection that I knew I always felt, but at one time, had lost to a large degree amongst the twists and turns of life. Even those who do not believe in such a thing helped this feeling within, flourish into something larger, something more beautiful, simply by allowing me to open up to it. However I chose to do so... even if sometimes, that meant challenging it and posing new questions and perspectives.

So esentially what i'm trying to say is, thank you everyone, for everything you've done for me, willingly or unwillingly, for helping me onto this path, but more importantly, for helping me to believe in it. I really do love each and every one of you for what you've done.

In times of need, in times of joy... We all fly together.
If not in person, then in spirit.
You'll all be there, every step of the way. :)

This is me, signing off.

Kiyevame, ma aysmukan si aysmuke... Oel ngati kamieie.
Ulte Eywa ngahu.