- Getting up before dawn to drive up to the mountains. Watching the sun create a kaleidoscope of colors in the sky before stopping for a scrumptious cranberry walnut pancake breakfast, in portions fit for a lumberjack. And yes, I ate them all.
- Starting our hike through the forest and immediately feeling the calming effect of the smell of damp earth and pine trees. The air was crisp and the sky a deep blue, with big white puffy clouds. We couldn’t have ordered better weather.
- I had been worried after we realized that we had picked a weekend that included Halloween, concerned that there might be some strange folks in the woods, but the only people we encountered all weekend were a family with two young kids early on Saturday. I do love seeing kids outside hiking.
- Watching an eagle dip and soar and ride the wind, for hours.
- Lying on a beach, awestruck by stars.
- In September I was in a black hole that I finally climbed out of. But still, feelings of anxiety and sadness and funk clung to me. Now, after a couple of days in the woods, I feel wholly re-energized and re-calibrated (and a very sore and stiff). I once thought that a group of men took everything away from me but now I realize that there are so many things that can never be taken away. The awesome beauty of nature will always fill my soul.
I didn't take any of these pictures as I don't carry a camera or even cell phone (no service) when backpacking. But these were in the public domain (I hope) and show where we were. However they don't come close to capturing how the wilderness impacts all five senses in such an amazing way.
Nature is the best medicine.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more which is why I am saddened that technology now keeps people, especially children, indoors staring at screens.
DeleteI'm so glad you had such a nice time and it filled and nourished your soul.
ReplyDeleteMe too, because if it had gone badly, I might not have tried again. But now I am chomping at the bit to get back. Such a good thing.
DeleteI'm pleased that you've found a remedy. For me, camping would be stressful. I am not good in a tent. I like my nature in small spurts. Like...my garden. That is about as naturey as I get! For me, my remedy has always been books. I think finding that source that can feed you when you are starving in pain is more important than anything else in the world. Except loved ones. They trump everything.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes. Gardens can do it for me too, except the wilderness does it exponentially for me, probably because there are no people. But such sadness for those who cannot find that source, or worse, know the source but cannot get access. That I can is yet another thing for me to be terribly grateful for.
DeleteGlad you had a great trip out in nature - sounds like just what you needed. I bet the changing colors were beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt was exactly what I needed, and more.
DeleteHaving gone north the colors were still amazing but definitely past peak. But to compensate, you get the crunch of dry leaves under foot.
This is wonderful. So healing and affirming for you, dear 8. I hope your soul is filled up with everything you so desperately needed.
ReplyDeleteMuch love to you, my friend...
So filled, and trying to resist all the soul sucking stuff people try to lay on us.
DeleteMuch love right back at you.
This is my goal: to be able to get in to nature a great deal more. I'd carry both camera and sketchbook, as I have to take lots of breaks, and that seems a fun thing to do.
ReplyDeleteYou are inspirational. And those men in our pasts couldn't take everything. Not by a long shot. About which I am very glad indeed.
And I hope you will be able to do just that. Even a short walk through a park is so beneficial:
Deletehttp://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/how-nature-changes-the-brain/?_r=0
ps: it's like this Captcha thing is mocking me. I had a few too many french fries with my garden burger tonight. You know what they wanted me to pick out of the random pictures? Yeah. Ugh. No fries again for a long while.
ReplyDeleteI have seen these things on other blogs but didn't realize mine had it. I am sorry. I will go through the setting and see if it is something I can get rid of. So effing irritating. I do not want to discriminate - all robots are welcome here.
DeleteSo pleased that the trip did all you needed and more.
ReplyDeletePeace. Be still.