Awestruck

It was a lovely autumn afternoon spent in a forest not far from home. As I gazed around, I noticed this beautiful spiderweb. An intricate artistic creation that left me awestruck.

How could a little spider create such a magnificent design? Amazing…

And I had a thought. Even in the midst of all the worldly turmoil, there’s magic all around. We just have to look.

I smiled, feeling enlivened and once again ready to embrace whatever life has in store.

So grateful for the inspiration…

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)

Feeling At Home

Quiet mornings, wandering in nature, gazing at beautiful creatures…some of my favorite things. As I watched this lovely wood duck rest on a log, I had a thought.

This beautiful bird appeared to be completely at home…relaxed, confident, and self-assured.

I, too, feel at home in nature. I suspect the natural world has an energy field not found in the everyday world. An energy field of acceptance and love and connection, with no expectations, no conditions, no judgment.

And it draws me again and again.

As I watched the duck disappear around a bend, I recognized what a privilege it is to experience the natural world.

I smiled and wandered on….

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)

Song

I heard him before I saw him…a beautiful marsh wren. Perched on a cattail, he was singing his heart out.

As I listened to his lovely melody, I had a thought. Yes, birds sing to attract a mate and to protect their territory.

But it was Charles Darwin who theorized that birds sometimes sing simply for their own enjoyment, and we now know that’s true. I suspected this little bird was delighting in his musical interlude.

And in that moment, I, too, stopped to simply enjoy. Fresh air, a cool breeze, beautiful shades of green, a hint of early fall...I exhaled for the first time in a while.

And as the little bird flew off to his next adventure, I smiled, grateful for the shared moments of pure enjoyment…

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)