The beauty of nature
Nature has intrigued me for years. The peace and beauty to be found in a ray of sunshine, the delicately painted flower, or the quiet of a forest path connect me more to the world than the modern luxuries we live with. I have always loved the outdoors, the feeling of the sun on my skin, the gentle breeze in my hair, and the peace found sitting in the shade of a tree. Water is where I find my true peace, listening to waves pounding the shore, floating in a quiet pool, or catching a wave to ride in, water is the one place where I feel truly alive, truly at peace.
As years have passed, experiences mounted, and miles have worn at my soul, the idea of living in nature, of escaping the harsh realities of life appeal more and more. People and society create drama and problems that do not exist in the natural world, the pressure to measure up, to have the latest car, these dramas and problems simply don’t exist, the frivolities we spend so much time worrying over wither away as our cell phone bars drop. Perhaps age has made me philosophical, or perhaps the harshness of life has withered my soul, or a combination of the two, who knows what has changed me, but something has.
Written words carry a beauty, a promise of wisdom. While creating a plan to decorate my space, to make it peaceful and mine, I have been drawn to works of art that include words. As I have searched through art, I have stumbled upon several quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, each equally declared the beauty of nature, the lessons to be learned, and the peace which could be found. Many have criticized Thoreau and stated his claim to have lived an isolated life, away in the woods, was a farce. Make no mistake, this is not a piece supporting any such statements, rather, this is a piece examining the beauty and peace of nature.
Nature does not need to be experienced in solitude, the experience can be shared with a bosom friend, a soul friend, someone who will not senselessly prater on and on, but rather someone who will experience the beauty and peace with you. In the frantic pace, we call life, we often find ourselves too busy to stop and enjoy the wildflowers growing along the highway, we call the daisies in our yard weeds. We are so interested in the next tweet or social media post, we miss the look of pure joy washing over a dog’s face as they take their first steps outside. Or the way they lean into the breeze, and sometimes even listen to the sweet whisper carried through the branches.
The past year, as we have adjusted to life in quarantine, I have found the ability to slow down energizing. Not having meetings and events to attend, not needing to spend an hour getting dressed, I have gained so much time. I have filled these hours with reading and read more books and articles than I have in years. Podcasts have created a soft whisper to fall asleep to, and the time that I would have spent getting my hair done has been devoted to my writing. Walk breaks, really any time outside has become a priority for me. In all reality, I have been busier this last year, than I was before the pandemic. And for the most part, far happier with the simple life I have created.
Nature holds infinite peace and beauty. The answers we so desperately seek can be found in the gentle breeze, or the rippling of the stream, or the beauty of a newly bloomed flower. The joy animals find in their daily lives, the field mice caught laughing as they delicately balance on a beautiful flower, hold the very things we are searching for, simplicity and honesty. The answers we seek, the happiness we so desperately pay for, can all be found in nature. Even in the midst of destruction, nature is alive, rising like a phoenix from the ashes. Ever resilient, nature clings to the hope of a better tomorrow, adjusting to today with grace and wisdom. Never questioning whether she is enough, has sufficient power, or has respect, she merely exists, lives, and follows her path. Some would say this quiet existence is passive, but I would say it is a true personification of power. Not needing the affirmation of others, to understand where you are going, and to peacefully follow the path, creating bridges over challenges, is to understand your true self, the self we hide from the world. This quiet determination is lined with fortitude and grit, powered by tenacity and endurance. Confidence like no other will take over, guiding you through your journey.
What would happen if we lived this way? If we wore our true selves, not ashamed of who we are, doubting our worth. What decisions would have been made differently? Would you have had the courage to say what you truly wanted, what you truly meant, rather than hide behind the niceties we have all deemed a must? How would the world be a better place if we got to know ourselves and were authentic? I wonder. I would have made many different decisions, I would have said no, I would have chosen differently, I would have lived the life I was meant to live. Struggling with saying no, not accommodating a meeting, should never be an issue. Knowing what we are working toward and only focusing on endeavors that bring us closer to our destiny is to emulate the grace and steadfastness of nature.
Maybe Thoreau didn’t live in a cabin in the middle of the woods, or the writings of Emerson are based on the works of Thoreau. None of this matters, what matters is the wisdom we can draw from their words, the patience we can learn from nature, the joy we can find in watching a sunset, or the true quiet we can find in the water. Rather than reading books to discover the secret of life, perhaps the secret lies right outside our door. Learning how nature is her true self can lead us to truly be our true selves.
Sincerely,
Sara
