THE COURSE FOR INDIVIDUALITY

Coming to La Donaira is often a transformational experience in the lives of all who arrive here -- from hotel clients to musicians, permanent workers to temporary volunteers. Budding journalist Moa Nettleton first arrived with her family as a client, and fell in love enough to return on her own as the newest volunteer in our Willing Workers on Organic Farms program. The following contribution, sparkling with the personal charm and humour of the young woman herself, was taken from her blog https://nouw.com/moona/

"El Nido", home of LD volunteers

Since coming to La Donaira I´ve shed blood due to standing on a piece of glass, sweat due to the intense heat of about 35-40 degrees and tears due to well both joy and sadness. Though the biggest thing I have done is I have obtained my goal.

There was a time when all I ever wanted was to be alone. I wanted to sit in my room alone and listen to music or read or just quite frankly ponder. I then entered a phase in which I never wanted to be on my own. Ever. I was constantly on the phone the minute things got quiet. I was also constantly booking in hangouts with people. People I wasn't even sure about. This in turn put a lot of pressure on not only myself but my boyfriend.

So what is it that I have managed to learn? What new goal have I completed? Well, I have learnt to be alone and not feel compelled to change it. It´s a comfortable silence instead of an awkward one and it feels good.

At the farm I sleep alone in a little room with beads drawn in front of the door to keep the flies out. Though admittedly they don´t do much. By my bed I have a little nightlight the colour of pink which casts a pretty glow at night. The walls are painted white with wooden beams laid out on the ceiling. Quite cozy right? (That is if you don´t count the uninvited small guests that wonderfully appear at night)

But back to the point. What I realised was that when one has reached their goal the work is not yet over. It never is. I must now also stick to it. That is why I am writing this post. So that when I´m back home alone I can look back and really think about the situation I´m in. So now that you´re in this situation again. It´s not so bad, is it?