Outside Reading- Into the Wild

In my Leadership class we are reading Into The Wild and I couldn't help, but connect the ideas from this class to McCandless while reading. The biggest thing that stuck out to me was that McCandless took his drive toward simplicity and his eagerness to be with nature so wholly that just being in civilization made him anxious. Even when he did go to town he stayed in close proximity to the outskirts in order to make a quick escape. Large groups of people tend to make him feel uncomfortable. McCandless ultimately gains his energy through the land and resting in Alaska. The part of Alaska where McCandless resided has become sacred ground because it is now a storied place. It hold the stories and dreams of a boy who hoped to survive in Alaska. McCandless also demonstrates dwelling in his environment by how he uses the land. He admires the stars through his bus window and is in awe of the elk that pass through. He creates his own rituals and records them for those who come after him to know about and possibly follow suit. Although McCandless wanted to go to Alaska, Alaska ends up choosing him. He could have gotten there and given up, but he lets down his cognitive side and opens up to allow the land to capture his spirit. He embodies the spirit of the wild through his drive for freedom and independence.