Member-only story
He became known as Woof, short for Woofer, and miles away from his given name. When he first applied on the WOOF site, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, he dreamt of finding a new home where he would be valued and honored for his innate self. At first, he was, but then, a different side of the family he joined began to emerge. Instead of calling him Ben, they greeted him as Woof, and sometimes, he thought of himself as a dog.
“Woof, come here, Woof, do this and that.” He appreciated learning farming methodology and the science of planting, growth, and harvest. But, his growth rhythms began to blur, and he lost touch with his accomplishments.
The Dad Farmer, a tall man with a distracted manner and greying hair, knew the land better than people, and the Wife ran everything else. Woof got confused about how to express his insights, and the Farmers didn’t notice. He noticed he relied increasingly on grunts and nods but couldn’t change the course.
“Woof, will you till this plot, blend these additives, and plant these seeds?”
He completed the checklist steps, was satisfied he did as directed, and was mindful that there was no place to add his experience. For example, Tilling the land involves:
Approach shed — check in with emotional levels and note muscle organization
