A Return

Rattlesnake Trail

It's been years since I last blogged. There is a distinct writer's block that comes from trying to resume. Life is so different now. Practically speaking and in pretty much every other way. But, there are some things that have not changed. And the biggest? I still love paying attention and paying tribute to all of the moments in life - big and small alike. So, here we are, beginning the redux with an ode to the forest.

Anyone who knows me knows my love affair with nature. The woods, bodies of water, mountains, wildlife, flowers, mosses. I love all of it. I love it even more when everything is quiet, and I get to just sit or walk or paddle within it. This weekend, I was able to wander a couple of trails at Coopers Rock State Forest. Slowing down to take in the magnificence of the rock formations and all the differences between them, the life radiating from the moss colonies along the trails, and the serene silence (with the exception of some birdsongs) that sits gently within the trees - well, it fed my soul. It was perfect weather conditions to spend time under the beautiful green canopy - which let in just enough of the sunshine to enhance the beauty. I kept thinking about two books by Robin Wall Kimmerer - Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss. She wrote about elements of nature in such a beautiful and connected way, I was transported and felt I was exploring paths alongside her. Her words inspired a deep sense of reverence for the natural world just as my walk along the trails of Coopers did this weekend. 

The forest reminded me of its age old advice to slow down. Listen. Sense. Breathe. Spend some time "at home."