Sunday Inspiration: The beauty of the earth
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth
find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—
the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
-Rachel Carson, author and naturalist
I offer these inspiring words in honor of the spring equinox, celebrated yesterday here in the Northern Hemisphere. Nature is so often taken for granted in our age of technology, but along with all the problems, a year of enforced isolation and social distancing has inspired me to spend time reconnecting with nature’s beauty and healing powers.
Without all the other diversions in my life, I’ve taken frequent walks through our state parks and along sandy beaches. I’ve gazed at stars, made new friends with Venus and Mars, and planted a colorful array of vegetables and flowers. Everything has reconnected me to the wonder of this world we are a part of.
Has nature inspired you this year of Covid? Have you found ways to participate despite everything else? Our days are growing longer and warmer again. Spring does come after winter. Let’s not forget to enjoy it.
There are so many wonderful things to experience in the natural world. I am always fascinated by the sameness and yet ever-changing nature of the sea. I love plant life and want to know the names of the plants. If I am with other people visiting a garden they usually spend time waiting in the car and still I feel like I didn’t have enough time. We recently visited the Eden State Park and I really loved seeing the camellias and azaleas. Two new experiences within the past week were watching a colony of great blue herons nesting in the treetops and watching a nesting Great Horned Owl feeding it’s babies. There is nothing new because of Covid but being outside for a while makes me forget at times that it even exists.
Because of the Pandemic, I found the ‘need’ to get out and walk more….thus a 30 minute route through my neighborhood twice a day every day ….it was soothing and refreshing…and on a side note, lost a few pounds and have kept that new weight consistent now for months! I also paid a membership to our local zoo as an alternative place to walk before the weather gets too hot (Phoenix). I have always felt walking was a stress reliever and if you can do it in the wonderful parks and gardens our country provides, it’s a real plus!
I worry about all of the kids who are always looking down at their phones. Even the smallest chid is handed a phone or an iPad to keep them quiet. In today’s world the older kids should be looking around at the beauty that surrounds them and keeping watch for anything that could harm them. The little ones are missing all of the world around them. They don’t know how to walk through a parking lot. Their eyes are on the device instead of learning. Parents hold the back of their little shirts and guide them instead of teaching them about the parking lot, saying the colors of the cars and learning about the world around them. The parents are always on their phones also. They don’t want to take away the devices from the kids because the kids know how to scream loud enough to get their own way. And they get it. Do they know what kinds of trees are around them? Do realize that different trees have different leaves. O that’s right. They just have to look it up.