nature – Page 9 – Site Title

Nature’s Way

“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” Mary Davis

Walking is my favorite thing to do. It helps to clear my mind, helps me to get a better perspective on life and it’s good for the mind and soul not to mention my body so what’s not to like?

It is almost springlike in my part of the world and after the snow, ice and sleet of the past week, blue skies and sunshine is a nice change. After having been cooped up for a week, it is time to take advantage of the nice weather.

Zipping up my light jacket with a scarf around my neck and stepping into my boots, I am all ready to head out the door. I am not expecting much, just a beautiful walk in nature. I wonder if I will see the deer I’ve seen on my last few walks. We made eye contact several times and then he took off and went back into the woods. I hope I do because there is something about coming face to face with one of nature’s own. It makes me feel like I belong too.

“Nature is the purest portal to inner-peace.” Angie Weiland Crosby

I am surrounded by blue-tipped mountains on one side and the sporadic green line of the forest on the other. Today, I find myself alone as I am on most days. I feel the wind picking up speed and I pull my coat closer against me as I raise my face to the sky. It is clear and blue and perfect. A loud cawing draws my attention. I look further up the path I am on and see two huge black crows fighting over something. As I approach them, they let out a loud sound at the human who has walked into their space, it almost sounds rude to the ear. Then they flap their wings and take off to another part of the field where they would be left in peace. I understand them well, I crave peace too.

Approaching the apple trees, I see that they’ve lost all their foliage and now stand naked their twig-like branches reaching out to nothing in particular. Not too long ago, they looked bright and beautiful with globes of red, pink and green hanging from their green branches. The apples have been harvested and there is nothing more left to be done until springtime of course. Out of what stands before me will emerge pink and white blossoms bringing with them a faint delicate scent that is warm and delicious and the cycle will start again. So it is with life. There is no end and no beginning. It is a never-ending cycle. You get on at some point and you get off when your time is up but life never stops moving, it just keeps on going.

As I make my way back, I realize that I haven’t seen the deer. I hope it is alright. Feeling refreshed by the clean air and the open spaces for as far as the eye can see, I say a small “thank you” for the beauty, the peace and the graciousness of nature. It has accompanied me in good times and bad and will be my companion for many more walks to come. Suddenly, a sharp shrill sound pierces the air. I look up to see a hawk hovering above me. A smile crosses my face as I watch it stay there for a while. Almost weightless it hovers and then it lets out another shrill cry as it flies away into the blue yonder. Nature teaches us many things but most of all it has the power to heal, it shows us a thousand miracles if we are open to it and in its own way it shows us that there is a time and place for everything.

“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” Henry David Thoreau

Or this one,

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” John Muir

The Straggler

I took a walk the other day. Walking is one of my favorite things to do. When the weather is nice, I am out there. When it’s cold, I am out there and during the in-between times I am out there. Lately I’ve had to put this passion of mine on the backburner because freezing weather has moved in and in between navigating the iced up patches of water and the muddy pathways, it has taken the joy out of an activity that I love.

I was bundled up but my face was exposed and the wind had decided to kiss my nose with its icy fingers to make its presence known. Just as I was about to give up and head back to the cosy interior of my place, I heard some squawking above. Looking up and to my surprise I noticed a flock of birds, they could have been ducks or geese, not sure which they were but they were flying in a L-formation, usually they fly in a V-formation heading to warmer temperatures down south. These were late heading out and there weren’t enough to form the V-formation either. Are they stragglers? When used in ornithology, it is defined as a stray, or strayed bird, out of its usual range or off its regular migration pattern. What had they been doing to throw them off course? Procrastinating? Couldn’t care less? We’ll make the journey when we feel like it? Or simply, we’ll move when the time suits us and not before.

Another definition for a straggler defines it as a person in a group who becomes separated from the others, typically because of moving more slowly. How many times have we experienced that? I know I have when life throws a curveball and I come to a complete standstill. At these times, I unsync myself and step out of the norm and what is expected of me. I move slowly and take my time and sometimes not at all. I stood watching as the migratory birds headed out, trying to keep up with what was expected of them and a thought ran through my mind. ”It is never too late” and another one followed suit, “Better late than never.” However, stepping out for a little while is ok but stepping back in and not letting too much time pass by is the key to moving on. You have to know the difference between the two..

Choosing to be a straggler is not always a good thing, keeping up with the status quo might be a better way of doing things but there are those of us who choose to be different. We tend to do things our way and if that means it takes a little longer to get there, to get back into the moment, so be it. Just so we never stop moving and we get to where we need to on time or a little late dragging ourselves to the finish line.

“Focus on what lights a fire inside of you and use that passion to fill a white space. Don’t be afraid of the challenges, the missteps, and the setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep going.” Kendra Scott

I watched the birds fly out of sight knowing full well that some will make it and some won’t and that is the sad part because they waited and took their time. Reminding myself to get back on track, I walked home having learned a lesson from nature.

“The man on top of the mountain didn’t just fall there.” Vince Lombardi

A Desert By Another Name

It is Sunday, time to relax, review the past week, take the good and leave the past behind after learning from the lessons it taught of course. Mine for the week was, LET IT BE.

As I looked at my messages, a picture popped onto the screen. It caught my attention because it was absolutely gorgeous. I stared at it for a few minutes and decided to go on my fact finding mission.

The picture was of the Atacama Desert sent to me by a Chilean friend. Little did he know that I would be awe-struck by it. I found out that it is located in the north of Chile. It is nothing much to look at during the arid period because it is considered hostile territory and touted as one of the driest non-polar desert on Earth. Detecting life there would be like detecting life on Mars because only the hardiest microbes survive there. Oh but what a transformation when the rains come. The Atacama desert flowering takes place from September to November which is the Southern Hemisphere’s spring. It is considered a miracle and it occurs when heavy rainfall saturates the ground causing the seeds and bulbs deep within the surface to germinate and flower. During this time, over 200 flower species can be seen waving their beautiful heads and covering the once arid landscape with color and stunning beauty. Unbelievable? It is.

What if life was like this phenomenon? Just like this desert, there are times when we go through dry patches and at times arid ones. It is a time when nothing seems to flourish no matter how hard you try. Then there are times when the rains come and with the watering we see life as it was meant to be. Full of beauty, joy and at times breath-taking. It does not last for long but then again nothing ever stands still in life right? Like the seasons, there is a time for everything so it is with the desert and with us. Keep moving is the message, work on the hard stuff and who knows just when you thought it was impossible, the rains will come and reward you with a desert blooming of your own! Never say never and anything is possible.

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.” Robert Frost

Have an amazing day.