The woods is where I go to be alone, away from family and friends, away from the busyness and stress of life, alone with my thoughts and feelings. It's where I go to cry, to rejoice, to grieve.
Back in the grove of old Scotch pines, which is the center of the woods for me, a dead tree balanced over a little creek is one of my favorite spots. I always stop to walk back and forth on the tree, learning to balance. I've often thought that if I could just get my body to figure out how to balance, perhaps my emotional and spiritual life will follow. At the base of the pine trees, I will usually toss my coat down to make a seat, because sitting in the presence of the woods brings me peace.
Academic environmentalist question:
ReplyDeleteHave you read the Holmes Rolston essay "The Aesthetic Experience of Forests"?
Superficial, irrelevant question:
Is that the same red shirt you
took with you on your rafting trip?
A beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a peaceful holiday.
This is a beautiful post. There is a profound peacefulness in the woods.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful holiday.
I know exactly what you mean.
ReplyDeleteHave a good holiday.
The closest I ever feel to be meditative is when I can just sit in nature - especially staring at a lake. I can sit there for hours, and it seems to put everything else into perspective.
ReplyDeleteI must say I envy your house, with those woods so close by...
Wishing you much peace.
ReplyDeleteI shivered looking at your wet jeans!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to find some space alone. I used to do the same in the woods behind my parents' house.
Rob: I don't know that essay .... I will have to look it up.
ReplyDeleteThe red fleece I'm wearing in the photo is the same red fleece I took with me on the raft trip, although I think in the photos you saw, I was wearing a short sleeve red shirt. After a few photos, you have seen practically my whole wardrobe. The outfit in this photo is pretty much what I wear to campus when I teach.
Phantom: Yeah, my feet were cold. I am terrible at keeping my feet dry -- nmostly, I don't even try.
I can understand this feeling because sometimes I feel alone, I like to go to my uncle's house when I feel like that.
ReplyDelete