Call it what you want.

Being in the Woodlands is like living in a home away from home with thousands of other people, almost like siblings or family, yet there isn’t the underlying tension or outright screaming matches unless they are declarations of love for music or each other. It is like being in a one story, contemporary yet modern, with rows of rooms right next to one another that go on for miles with a lack of doors or walls between these living spaces to separate us. Every person is on the same level and are able to relate in new profound ways because no matter differences in age, race, or opinion, music is our religion and humbles us all. Firefly consists of continuous awe inspiring moments, those few minutes of an artist performing that take your breath away, taking the time to listen to others and their passion behind their love of music, connecting to individuals that you otherwise would not in the real world, each experience involves a loss of superiority that one gains from having to be strong in society. Everyone steps outside of the barricades that they have built for themselves and the façade becomes more genuine.

           This is what I love most about Firefly and has me yearning to go back home to the Woodlands each year. The relationships that are built between unlike people and the feeling of being able to be a truer version of myself. There is a feeling of acceptance and love that this music festival has that attracts more and more people each time. The comfort you feel around complete strangers is what gives me faith for this life and the generations to come. People can still be kind and build intense bonds with one another rather than keeping appearances up as we all have to do in our everyday lives.

           There are innumerable tragedies and struggles that humanity has faced and it almost seems like many days are battles to be fought with those around us and ourselves. However, the culture that surrounds Firefly is a stark contrast to these wars being waged. Firefly is the fabric that weaves with all adversity and creates something so beautiful. There is a peace and balance achieved at this festival that I doubt I could ever feel anywhere else.

           As soon as you are on the campgrounds, there is such an electric current of excitement that just flows through every person. It is like a natural high that continues on for days even after you have left. It is this feeling that carries me on through the harshest weeks of work, the months of challenging college classes, and the absence of the best of friends due to the ever changing courses of our lives.

           There is nothing else in this world that makes me feel the way that the Woodlands, music, and the people of firefly do. I appreciate every soul that comes and contributes to the massive lovefest that is this festival, even though I only encounter a fraction of you each year. Although I can’t see every face, I feel the overwhelming positive energy that is emitted from each person the second I step onto the grounds. I wish that the society of Firefly could be the one that I live in each day, but I consider myself lucky to have ever experienced this when most people do not get the opportunity.