All tagged Nature
One of my favorite Henry David Thoreau quotes is “It's the beauty within us that makes it possible for us to recognize the beauty around us. The question is not what you look at but what you see.” To me this means that we can look at just about anything and find beauty if we ourselves are filled with positivity. Even if something isn’t classically attractive there can still be beauty in its purpose or being.
Ahh….it’s Spring! The snow has melted and the mud has dried. The crocus are in full bloom. Daffodils and hyacinths are poking up through the soft earth. The days are filled with the sound of bird song and spring peepers are peeping the night away. Hawks and crows are arguing over territory while the bald eagle remains perched on his favorite fishing tree. Wood ducks and mallards have returned to the pond and the turtles are basking on the rocks. My horses and goats are soaking in the warmth and the hens are laying. Life is good as I spend my days dizzy with thoughts of all I want and need to do. It is the season of renewal; a time to be productive. But before I get busy with all that I need to take some time to reflect on the past twelve months.
That is the thing about good friends. Spending time with them is just as easy as breathing. Hours pass so quickly that you think it’s only been minutes. For me there was something life affirming about a few hours spent enjoying animals and nature with a life long friend. The wildflowers we picked were a reminder that life doesn’t have to grow according to plan in order to be beautiful. We were able to pick a collection of vibrant flowers from different locations as our walk progressed. Isn’t that just like life? We pick things up along the way that brighten our days and make life better.
But we aren’t like a duck who spends a few months with her offspring or a spider whose job is done after a few weeks . No, for a human, the role as mother usually lasts for decades (even though we can technically be done after 18 years). And unlike the animals we are not merely trying to guarantee our survival and that of our species.
