It is hard to say really, just what it is that fosters this peace I feel today.
It could be the hypnotic sparkling ripple on the pond as the soft breeze tickles the sunlit surface of the water. It could be the call of woodland birds, each one seeking to outdo the singing of the other, every note adding to a melody of springtime song. The warm wind that skips atop the water, and blows across my face, could be another cause of this peaceful, easy feeling within me this day. And its quite possible that it is the healthy combination of all these things.
It is an understatement to say that the world we live in today is stressful. The hustle and bustle of every day living alone wears on us a bit. To be sure, we have a life of leisure compared to the war-weary countries across the globe.
We wake each day with a reasonable expectation of community safety. For nearly everyone in America, it is a given that we will not go hungry, thirsty, or severely deprived. While there are terrible events each day in some part of our country, these are "events "to us precisely because they are out of the norm, unusual, and not a daily occurrence that we have to live with personally. No, we have it pretty darn good in the old USA, and yet, our fast pace on-the-go lifestyle will wear anyone down occasionally. That's why I love the healthy stress relief of the natural environment.
I share the belief of all Native American nations and others, that we are connected physiologically to the earth. All plants, animals, water, sky and soil are part of our human make up. We're all from the same Creator, and all made from the same dust.
There is science to support the healing power of re-connecting to nature ( see my blog post "Forest Healing", Jan 18 2015). The woodland air is fresher and more satisfying to the body and mind. The quietness is powerful in its ability to cause us to honestly listen, and not shut out the sounds around us. The scenery itself is a visual anesthetic. A calm comes over us anytime when we can return to the source of our beginning as humans.
This day is a day of nourishment for my inner self. My eyes are filled with pleasant surroundings. My ears drink in the sounds; rather than filter through the cacophony of daily living. The smell of life fills my senses as each plant, flower, and tree offer an aromatic indulgence that satisfies like nothing else can.
It is a oneness I enjoy, when I'm alone with nature, that comforts and soothes me. It is a deeply satisfying thing I feel. I cherish every moment of this woodland peace.
