Wonder
Our field at home.
“The world is so full of wonderful things we should all, if we were taught how to appreciate it, be far richer than kings.” - Ashley Montagu
I hope you had a good week. Earlier, I took my usual thermos of tea and headed to the cabin to sit and start thinking about what to write for this weekend’s newsletter.
Looking out the window, the outside view lit up my soul, causing my heart to smile gratefully. It seems that the more my gratitude grew for the visual, the more beauty revealed itself; inspiring me to write about nature and its splendour today.
Awe can transform confusion into wonder.
Occasionally I suffer a bit of SAD or seasonal affective disorder. A type of mild depression I experience during the winter months. The changes in light exposure can affect my mood, energy levels, and sleep. So, the following quote gave me something to ponder. "The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature. ~ Joseph Campbell
Nature's beauty brings pleasure to my senses, mind, and soul, whether it is a sunset, a sunrise, or a flower’s design. It can heal, calm, and remind us of life’s simple yet profound wonders. People, art, music, literature, ideas, and actions at times awaken our awareness of beauty. But today I will focus on the beauty of nature.
Awe ignites creativity and awakens curiosity.
We all recognise beauty when we encounter it in nature. Often times beauty is subjective and shaped by personal taste. Unfortunately, we don't always realise all the natural beauty around us.
There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re free. Sunrise is my favourite because it offers a new day and another chance to do life better. And sunsets, well, I find them soothing and giving pause to reflect.
Awe is a state of mind inspired by something so beautiful or extraordinary.
I am trying to get into the habit of taking Millie for a brisk walk before I head to bed. While doing so, I remind myself to look up, especially on nights when the clarity of the night sky gives a bountiful dash of “awe”.
When you’re gazing at a full moon, Paul Brandt’s words might come to mind: “Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” It’s such a great reminder of what’s possible!
I am blessed from time to time to see a small hawk perched in a tree outside my cabin window. They are such beautiful birds and, to me, the epitome of efficiency. It can't hear me through the window, but I always say, "Hello, Hawkeye, I hope you are having a fruitful day." Then quickly think, I hope the cat is in the house.
Stepping out of the cozy cabin and spending time among the trees is always time well spent. On my reading wish list is Suzanne Simard’s book Finding the Mother Tree. The essence of the book is: “A forest is much more than what you see.”
As I write this, the afternoon is drawing to a close. While this time of year lacks the vibrant colours of spring and summer, brown and white are still colours and hold their own beauty. The photo above, taken of our field, is proof.
Need some colour? Flipping through seed catalogs and gardening magazines is a great way to spark the imagination. I’ve been diving into them a lot these days.
The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us. Journey wisely. - Alex Elle
Have a wonderful weekend!
Bruce
