Autumn Walk in the Woods

I've been feeling a pull to the woods. The trees have been whispering my name and calling me for a visit. The truth is, I've been missing them. Ever since my trip to the Upper Peninsula I felt so connected with those trees and back at home I only have a few, small little baby trees. It's just not the same.




So I grabbed my camera and took a short drive to this great little nature center and went for a solitary walk in the woods. For me the best kind of walk in the woods is one I do all by myself. When I am there, alone, I am able to connect with the power of nature, to connect with myself in a way that I can't experience when I am surrounded by people.

It was amazing because everywhere I walked I was awed by the beauty. I stopped to take a million pictures. The thing is that fall is such a beautiful season. The colors are deep and warm, all of my favorites. The air is crisp and the sun has a certain glow about it. Listening to the birds chatter and hearing the crunch of the leaves underfoot adds to the wonder of it all.

Unfortunately most of the time I let fall go by without much appreciation. I have this thing about winter...I hate it. So often what happens for me is that as soon as the weather turns and the fall season begins I start dreading the arrival of winter. I miss out on a whole season of beauty waiting for something bad to happen.

And then I started wondering how often I do this in my life. Am I missing those wonderful, beautiful, soul opening moments waiting...waiting for something to happen. Ah, that's the good ole dilemma. How to stay in the present moment!

There was a moment where all of this came to me in a moment of clarity. I had found a spot beneath the trees where the sun was peeking through. I stopped and just stood there and allowed the sun's rays to warm my face. The wind blew and all around me leaves started fluttering to the ground. My senses were alive and there was such gratitude for that brief moment in time where everything was perfect, I was perfect.