Nature

Today was rainy, cloudy, gloomy, and chilly. I wondered how I was going to write about my profound appreciation and gratitude for nature when she was being a miserable pill. Right up until she wasn’t. I had to run an errand to the post office at around 4:30 this afternoon. The light was shifting, the clouds moving. I know these walks at Mill Creek will be fewer and less pleasant as the weather changes, but I had to seize the opportunity.

Nature–teacher, healer, muse–has given me moments of peace and a place to ugly cry. I’m so thankful for the respite from grief and a way to channel it too. Sounds of birds, the noise the water makes as it flows over each section of the channel, the rhythmic pace of my feet on the path soothe my soul. And of course I text friends and family images that fill my heart because I want to share those moments. I am in solitude and I am in community. I have watched the changes over the course of seasons and thanks to herds of goats. I have seen blue herons, pelicans, birds of prey, ducks, and geese, dogs of every shape and size, and even one river otter. Lines and color, shadow and light, teach me to be a better artist, too.

I’m never going to be an intrepid backpacker into the deep wilds. I’m neither a camper or one who seeks out circumstances where I can “rough it.” Camping absolutely doesn’t appeal (unless it’s the Lee family where they bring lattes to the tent door.) 🙂 But I do love hikes and being at the ocean or walking anywhere there are beautiful trees. Nature even finds it’s way here when the squirrels and possum and raccoons show up. The stream running through my back yard decides to get clogged with leaves or weeds and I’m reminded just how determined and persistent nature is–a good teacher, indeed.

For all this and more than I can articulate, I’m am so thankful for nature.