believing in bigfoot

generosity in beliefs

Why would anyone want to not believe in Bigfoot?

It’s a fun thought: there is an 8-10 foot tall ape-creature running around the mountains, occasionally being seen by people, always evading being caught on camera or film, and making a fuck-ton of noise by screeching and banging sticks against trees. 

I’ve never seen Bigfoot with my own eyes, but I have full faith that somewhere, somehow, there is a giant bipedal hairy ape-creature strolling around the mountains. 

I’ve long been a believer in the Sasquatch. Ever since I was 10 years old, in my grandfather’s attic with my siblings watching Finding Bigfoot on cable television. 

Simpler times, where anything was possible, and things were easily taken at face value.

I remember watching these episodes intently with my younger brothers. Only going to the bathroom during commercial breaks, not missing a single shot. 

Will they finally get a video of Bigfoot? Is this random person’s story believable? Would I be scared in that tent? Would I be scared running through the woods trying to get a video of bigfoot on a thermal camera?

I loved watching the show because I had the idea that, “Bigfoot is definitely real, but they’d never let him be shown on television.” I knew he was out there, I knew the stories were real, but I also knew he would never be filmed fully on camera, never verified. 

**

During this past summer, I visited the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. My girlfriend and I spent about an hour in the museum, I got a ticket for parking illegally, and I ended up walking away believing in Bigfoot less.  

The museum was founded in 2003 by Loren Coleman, a revered figure in the cryptozoology movement. Nothing but respect for Loren and the work he’s done, but the museum didn’t hit home for me. The “evidence” felt gimmicky, and examining everything made me realize how little convincing evidence there is. 

He might be a multidimensional traveler, a long-lost descendant of great apes, or an elaborate cover-up for human violence. But either way, something strange is happening. 

**

For Christmas this past year, my girlfriend got a small wooden statue of Bigfoot. 

Believing in Bigfoot is a generous act, because believing in things not commonly-held is a vulnerable and scary thing. To me, there is something special about believing in Bigfoot. 

Beautiful things don’t need to be verified, beautiful things just need to be felt.

I keep the small wooden Bigfoot statue above the fireplace