Several years ago, my little family and I were lucky enough to find our perfect house on the outskirts of town. The best part (besides the number of bathrooms) was it is surrounded by several acres of Pacific Northwest woods. For this girl who grew up in the wide open Southwest desert, surrounded by dirt and rocks (also beautiful in their own way 🙂 ), I feel so lucky to now be living somewhere surrounded by beautiful trees. It is somewhere I always dreamed of living when I “grew up”. Whenever I’m having a bad day, all I need to do is go outside and take a walk and I feel so much better. Whatever your nature is where you live, look for its gifts and relish how much it can calm your soul and uplift your spirits.
When I sit beneath this tree
A peaceful calm envelops me.
I close my eyes, lay back my head,
And listen to what all is said.
Quiet noises can be heard:
The simple melody of a bird,
The softest rustle of the leaves,
The gentle buzzing of some bees.
The playful noise of kids nearby
As they throw a ball up high.
Quiet chatter as two friends talk
As they take an evening walk.
The gentle babble of a brook,
The quack of ducks who take a look.
And then a breeze blows across my face
And I know how much I love this place.
How lucky is the person who
Loves nature like it’s something new.
Recognizes that it’s a gift
To help and calm and give a lift.
Treats it with much love and care
And enjoys the peace that comes from there.