A Walk in the Woods -- What do You See and How Might that Relate to the Way You Look at Life?

The following is a short exercise designed for a classroom activity.  The task was presented as just a meaningless and silly game.  I not only found it to be fun but interesting in the way different people respond to the situations and I though you might enjoy it.  It could also be a good introduction for a group coming together for some creative problem solving.

Following are eight tasks.  Do not spend much time on any one.  Actually record the first thing that comes to your mind.
 

1.    Imagine that you are about to enter a large forest.  Describe the forest and how you feel about entering.
2.    There is a trail in the forest.  Do you follow it or make you own?
3.    You hear a noise in the bushes.  Who or what is there?
4.    You find a key in the forest.  Describe the key and tell what you would do with it.
5.    You find a cup in the forest.  Describe the cup and tell what you would do with it.
6.    You come upon a body of water.  Describe it and tell what you do in relationship to it.
7.    You come upon a bear.  Describe the bear and tell what you do about it.
8.    You come upon a wall.  Describe the wall and tell what you do in relationship to it.

Remember this was intended to be a fun but meaningless and silly activity.

Following are some thoughts on the different types of responses.  Symbolism is intended in each of the questions.
 

Question #1 The Forest:  This describes your outlook on life.  A dark, mysterious forest means that life is a deep mystery for you.  A scary, spooky forest means you are fearful of life.  If the forest is bright and cheerful, your outlook is positive.  If your forest is on fire, it means you are a psycho.

Question #2 The Trail:  If you follow the existing trail, you tend to follow rules.  Making your own trail means that you are independent or too cool to follow guidelines.

Question #3 The Noise:  The noise in the bushes symbolizes the unknown.  For some it will remain a mystery, for others there will be satisfactory answers.

Question #4 The Key:  This symbolizes education.  Some will keep their key, some will toss it away or ignore it.  Others may describe a beautiful key, a functional key, or a pile of rust.

Question #5 The Cup:  This symbolizes religion.  Some find a chalice, others a styrofoam cup.

Question #6 The Water:  The body of water speaks of romance.  Some find a huge lake and want to skinny dip, others find a dank swamp and want to avoid it at all costs.

Question #7 The Bear:  Here we have problems or troubles.  Some will see a scary bear and run from their troubles.  Some will see a harmless cub and pet it.

Question #8 The Wall:  Death is symbolized by the wall.  Some will turn around at the wall.  Some will crawl over.  Some will see it as a barbed-wire fence, some as a picket fence or crumbling rock pile.  Some fear death or want to avoid it, others approach with confidence.