November 18, 2006

Perspective

When I am feeling sad or confused or angry or frustrated, if I am grieving a loss or making an important decision, or if I am in one of those moods in which I just don't know what I feel, the one thing that always helps is a walk in the woods. It's always feels right to get outside into the moist air that smells of mud and dead leaves, to leave behind the computer and telephone, the stacks of papers in my office, the housework and the to-do lists.

In my own woods, I will find big trees that have come down during high winds, and I will walk along the slippery trunks, picking my way across mosses, trying to balance before I fall into the muddy puddles below. I have this idea that learning to balance physically will somehow bring about a corresponding emotional balance.

If I am near a lake or a river, I can spend hours just staring at the water, or climbing up a rock or tree to see how far I can see. Changing my perspective by something as simple as a change of height can sometimes change the way I am turning over thoughts inside my head.

me on rock

Photo of me taken by my Dad during October.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful picture and thoughts, thank you.
We just returned from a walk in the woods, ankle-deep in mud, sun finally shining again. It felt peaceful, although I have a big decision percolating and am still not sure what to do.

Anonymous said...

I just finished a walk along the river and it has done wonders for me. I needed the sunshine and cool air today to help change my perspective.

Pilgrim/Heretic said...

That is such a glorious photograph.

um yeah said...

I could use a walk in the woods now. What a beautiful photo.

purple_kangaroo said...

Oh, you made me miss my woods.

Jennifer (ponderosa) said...

I like to balance too. And oh, I miss places with rocks like that.

Anonymous said...

Everything is relative, isn't it. I was just pondering on that on my own blog, how I need to put things 'into perspective' sometimes (http://lackofsound.blogspot.com/2006/11/into-perspective.html)...

That's a great photo by the way, I love walking in the woods.

Andromeda Jazmon said...

Yes, I am a woods walker and rock climber too. You are beautiful here!

Scrivener said...

Very cool photo!

Jan said...

One of my favorite places on earth is a big rock in the middle of a stream on my parents' farm. It's about time for me to make a serenity visit there!

I love the photos on your blog!

YourFireAnt said...

Balance. It's nice, and it always seems like what you want. But, comes when things are out everything you find worth living for comes when things are messy, chaotic out-of-balance, doesn't it. E.g., love, children, poems, ecstasy, a new life.

Keep walkin' that river, babe!


FA

YourFireAnt said...

Ooops! Delete the "..comes when things are out..." from that second sentence.

FA