For my first post I was going to write either about happiness, balance, or adding a positive parallel to a stressor, but I lost focus. I sit here at Oakledge Park on a rock after walking over two miles from downtown to get here, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I just wandered off the beaten path to a set of random staircases made of rock. The top led me to this view:
I am a native Vermonter but views like these never get old. The sun is shining and a light breeze is gently caressing my hair. The trees around me are giving me life in more ways than one. The water in front of me is technically clear but looks as blue as sapphire-colored paint cascaded onto a smooth canvas. The sun is glistening upon it showing that true beauty is clear to those who choose to see it. As much as man has been a part of keeping this park intact, it is nature that makes it beautiful. There is nothing like the wilderness and there is nothing like the countryside.
I've always loved the great outdoors and taking in what the world has to offer. My Mom taught me how to love others and my Dad taught me how to love the great outdoors. These lessons of love have really stuck with me over the years; that's why I would rather be here than any city no matter how big it is because tall buildings are cool but so are the trees that have witnessed life begin and end at its most authentic state. Being able to spend time in a place like this is something I want to share with everyone because sometimes you find your inner beauty as you are captivated by the elegance that is right in front of you.
Even the sound of the birds chirping and the waves crashing onto the rocks below is putting the biggest smile on my face; I just can't get enough of it. However, having a balance between indulging in the results of industrialization and nature is so important. We need the modernization that came from industrialization but we also need an appreciation of nature to ground us. You find yourself as you get lost in the woods but become a well-rounded person by engaging in different cultures in the city. Yeah being outside means bug-bites, the threat of sunburn or frostbite, and wetness from possible precipitation, but with the right gear any adventure can be enjoyable.
Just put down your phone, walk outside, and prepare to amazed by what Mother Nature has created for you :)
