When I walk through the woods, I absorb the energy of the nature around me. Somewhere on my hike I make sure I stop and hug a tree, like really wrap my arms around its trunk and lay my cheek against its bark. You will feel the energy from the tree. This isn’t woo woo, even if it sounds like woo woo. Take a pause and just lean into it. The forest is a living and hopefully thriving ecosystem.
When I hike, I take in the colors, contrast (light and dark, soft and rough), sounds (there are several sounds going on when you stop to listen), and the colors, oh my!
On this particular hike at this particular time, as it is just barely Spring, the forest is mostly brown, appearing to be in its dormant state. What I saw was a forest about to wake up! It is a magical time to hike – 50 degrees (not too hot or too cold), no bugs, and no humidity (if you live in WI, you know the blessing). The moss on the rocks and trees were the only green to be found but I know in the next few weeks the colors will come bursting forth.
Along the way I enjoyed – a small brilliant orange and black butterfly that was much too shy to sit still for a photo, a tree that someone had drawn a small heart on, (that I would have totally missed if I didn’t reach out to touch its bark). An old tree trunk that a few woodpeckers had gone to town on and it looked like a woodpecker condo. Soft fuzzy moss, that I gently ran the palm of my hand across, tactile bliss. A mushroom growing on a tree that looked like a white witch hat, a handful of talkative chickadees, and squirrels running amuck.
I saw a couple of humans, but they don’t count, they were visiting and not part of the forest itself.
Reaching one of my favorite lookouts, I sat on a large rock and looked out across the view below. The fresh air around me and the sun’s warmth on my face reminded me that warmer days are coming. I could see the Mississippi in the far distance and an eagle circling, looking for supper (I felt relief I wasn’t a mouse or rabbit). I have sat on this rock many times and each time the view is just a little different depending on the season and time of day.
Little story time:
I was trail running down a fairly steep path a couple of years ago and my body got ahead of my feet and I would have taken a good tumble if this particular tree wasn’t there on this path, I headed for it and grabbed it, being saved from cuts, scraps, and possibly worse. Today as I came down the same path, I placed my hand the tree and thanked it for keeping me safe from a potentially bad fall. Always thank the trees.
If you are feeling stressed by the world around you, trust me, take yourself to somewhere you can sit in nature. It may not be a forest, it could be a park, the beach, or a bubbling brook, just go and listen to the sounds, touch the rocks, trees, or sand, and feel the sun on your face. Just sit and let nature nurture your soul.
If we all spent a part of our time away from cars, our phones, the chaos, this world would be a much happier and healthier place.
No scoot, off you go……I can’t wait to hear about your next nature adventure.