Every month, I host a link-up on a different topic. If you’re interested in getting notified in advance of what the topic is going to be, please just send me an e-mail, and I’ll add you to the list. Nature is a beautiful and magnificent part of our life, which is why this month is dedicated to it. This time of year is great for nature all over the world because we’re in the middle of Spring and Autumn on respective hemispheres. Where I am, the trees are budding into glorious colors and I can spot clumps of tulips in the median strips of the highway. Where you are, you might see leaves turning warmer colors and crisper in texture, falling into your scarf. Seasons make us think about life a lot in terms of cycles and time, and Spring and Autumn are the two where we can really see change happening.
Nature is one of those things that is just beautiful on its own. I’m admittedly much more of a city girl than country. I would never be able to live in a rural area, and it’s good to know that about myself, but I can still appreciate nature for it’s glory.
Sometimes nature can remind us where colors and acceptance came from. We can look at congregations of a dozen different wildflowers, seeing how their differences only compliment each other. We’re not worried that white should only be worn in the Summer, and we’re not angry that there’s “too much going on”. Everyone is existing in harmony, clashing patterns and all.
Sometimes nature reminds us of adventure. You might have to hike a long way, but eventually you’re going to find a waterfall.
Sometimes nature can make us feel small. If you’re on top of a mountain, or riding in a hot air balloon, you might be able to see just how vast the forest is. All those trees, so close together, looking like broccoli on our dinner plates. We might think of how, in terms of size, we can only reach our arms up the bark a third of the way. We’re not as big as one of those trees, and you can see hundreds from here… and that’s just as far as your eyes can see. Perspective is a beautiful thing, and most of the time when I end up feeling incredibly small from the sight of the forest or stars in the sky, I end up feeling more significant and infinite.
“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”- Vincent Van Gogh
Sometimes nature can make us feel at peace. Maybe it’s just being within the impressive beauty, or maybe it’s returning to a spot that speaks to you. There’s a park I’ve always loved, and whether I was seven, illegally wading in the waters, getting sand in horrifying places, there with the person I loved on a pier, overlooking the waves, or eighteen, pretending I was a mermaid that just got her legs… I’m always calm when I’m at the water there.
Sometimes nature can make us stop. Is Instagramming a picture of a sunset “super hipster”? Sure, I’ll allow it. But something I love about the fact that Instagram exists is that people are learning to stop and notice. That sunset is gorgeous, and it should be oggled.
Sometimes nature can make for a great story. Like the time my friend, Janice, found a giant tumbleweed and wanted to send it to me in the mail. It truly was giant, though, and shipping would have been upwards of $100. Instead, she released him back into the wild with a red ribbon as a marker. That was Jerry, the tumbleweed that I adopted on February 1, 2012. I hope to cross paths with him someday, but I know that he’s having fun on his journey.
I hope that you make time to be in nature. Maybe not today, but in general. Make visiting things from Mother Earth a routine. Put it on your schedule! It’s important.
“The earth has music for those who listen.” – George Santayana
That waterfall, ohhhh, I need to see a waterfall someday. I love the story about Jerry the tumbleweed! Wouldn’t it be so cool to stumble across him?
I feel like such a butt for saying how excited I was about this link-up and that I would definitely participate and then I totally never got to it! My apologies, I wish I’d planned better! 🙁
Ahhh! Thanks for the reminder Mary! I live your nature pictures. I need to get out and explore more!