When I step foot into the woods I instantly feel better......the first moment.....like somebody took a heavy winter coat off of my shoulders. One of those coats that feels like you are wearing another human, a wool one lol;-) and when I step foot and the coat falls and hits the ground, all I feel is free and light. Deeply breathing in the clean air, letting it fill my lungs and bring its medicinal power to my soul. Taking in the sights that are found there. The beauty all around, a beauty only found the stillness of the woods and nature. It is one of the most sacred places there is now if you think about it.......anywhere in nature and the woods due to the society we live in.....where everything is instant....made of microchips and plastic......it is one of the last REAL places there is......a place to come back to your origin....to your root and soul......and when I was young I spent a lot of time in the woods....enjoying it......my parents took us in the woods, I went with friends, and of course drinking beer in it, didn't all teenagers for generations lol:) but I recognized even then the power it held.....and then I forgot......Nick didn't ever like to hike, it did not appeal to him, so we didn't.....and then the kids and I had started walking a lot during COVID but even then it did not occur to me to jump into the woods. I had been a handful of times over the years, by way of random events......but as a practice or with any regularity I hadn't been.....and now I am not sure I could exist without the respite it brings to my soul.....the peace that is found there for me....and for my children.....they recognize the power of it already......how it makes them feel....such a special time for us to share.......and I think had COVID not been around and there had been no limits to where we could go......I may not have found my way there either....hard to say.....it seemed like the best option initially, considering the circumstances....and now I know it is the best option regardless of the circumstance.....I have huge hiking and nature plans now......lots of trails in this country to be had by my kids and I in the future.....many miles in beautiful spaces to be walked.....lots of bucket list items originating out of my rekindled love affair with nature.......I can't wait to see the sights.....smell the way earth smells in all these places.....feeling the deep peace found in the ground......all of it.....I urge you to get into the woods if it has been awhile......reconnect with its power.....feel its medicine for your soul......we are headed out today.....it will be brisk and lovely......and will charge my soul for the week ahead at work......give me the strength to put one foot in front of the other with a smile on my face and peace in my heart......and do the things I must........it is one of the practices that now grounds me in my life......that brings enormous healing to my soul.....harnessing the power of the things that have been provided to us......things that don't cost a thing.......just paying attention to the things that soothe our soul and running toward those.....and running from things that irritate it:) Enjoy your day everybody!:)
jperuso
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