Post 600

Today we mark what is the 600th post on Scouting and Me which began back in 2018 in conjunction with a Tumblr because in the throws of issues with tumblr itself, losing an account I realized I was blogging a fair bit around scouting and felt what would be the replacement for that tumblr should have a focus just on Scouting.

Part of  that idea was to plan posts better so I could look at scouting as it was during my youth and part was looking at scouting in today's world which while being different many of the skills and character building needed remain the same, as for that matter do the children and young people.

But then there is another bit which is looking at a age dysphoric eternal boy's needs,  what the resumption of scouting related activities can do meet my needs, helping me to be more independent, be involved in and form interests in things, making a life with a sense of purpose.

That without going into things that belong elsewhere can be a problem where adult roles may be beyond you but you are officially too old for youth sections even if you may have more supervisory needs than those over 12.

So it was initially with company I picked up from where my life had been parked and started to go out exploring in terrain that with my physical disabilities is challenging sometimes requiring to pulled with two or three others to go forward standing up over step hills or like last year over rocks becoming more resilient and toughened up.

Then lockdown struck which cut out meeting up and exploring  at the same time as being expected to stay home was as with a good number of others taking its toil on my outlook, I decided to plan periods around the regulations I could manage by myself to do that taking notes.

Thus the "and me" side of the blog grew because if children and young people in scouting could and were adapting to lockdown then so could I setting challenges that could be done which helped with the mental health issues around lockdown and also moved me along towards what with my limitations I could actually do and feel I now had a goal in life.

We all hope many of the restrictions we've had can be lifted for good and that being together outdoors  can resume so I can work on some more challenging things with support as in its own way for children and young people in scouting it can too.

Days can be spent again together under sunlight and nights under the stars.

Having got our tent erected in a secluded spot, we've got our fire going quite nicely.

That looking towards the future is really what I am looking forward to as we move past this post seeing that eternal boy grow in character and confidence.