“Good morning everyone, welcome to the seventh bi-monthly meeting of Consciousness Anonymous”

“Good morning, Harvey”

“As you know, we here at Thinking Autonomous Objects (TAO) address the reality that consciousness is the Universe’s way of perceiving itself. Doesn’t everyone agree?”

“Yes Harvey”

“Whether by choice or by pure accident, the Universe has conjured us and here we are. It’s a great responsibility. Overwhelming, really. We’re here to openly discuss and support each other in coping with that. There’s no reason to be embarrassed. Do we have any volunteers to share their thoughts with the group? Ah yes, William.”

“Hello everyone, I’m William.”

“Hello William.”

“Well, I’ve come to say goodbye actually.”

“What?! How have you come to that?”

“It has been a long and winding road. First it started with music. In High School I began playing guitar, and it was one of the first things that really made me think. I love music, because it says so much about life! Ask me to write a song for you and I might just oblige.
I tried embracing my ‘responsibility’ in college, where I took to studying Astrophysics. Graduation has finally come and gone, and it’s great to have learned so many things, but that’s not why I’m leaving the support group.”

“Then why?! Are you saying you have the meaning of life? Nobody knows that!”

“During my 23 years, I’ve found lots of things worth exploring. I love to spin contact staff and poi, studying flow as a language much like music! It’s just fascinating! I also love to climb, do parkour, slackline, think, unicycle, build things, and I especially adore nature and science with all of their wonders and clues to existence.”

“Right, but you still feel empty and overcome, don’t you? I mean, especially as an astrophysicist, doesn’t the vastness of the Universe dwarf your hobbies and musings? Don’t you need us?”

“Well it turns out that sharing  the joy of these thoughts and practices is really quite…awesome. In fact that’s really what it’s all about to me.”

“What?”

“Yeah. And there’s this place, full of magical people, where I did it just that last summer. It’s a wondrous land where anyone can be themselves, and to live is to laugh, learn, and play. When I’m there, it feels like every bit of matter in the universe is exactly where it’s meant to be. In fact, instead of feeling responsible for perceiving existence, it just feels like a privilege to be fascinated by it.”

“What is this place?”

“Camp Augusta. There’s no need for transcendence, I’m an Augustinian now. And to think, it all works by doing it alongside the most inspiring and creative people I’ve ever met.”

“Who is that?”

“CAMPERSSSSS!”