what a lovely essay, and one I feel such kinship to! I grew up in a small town, in the middle of the forest, about 10 miles north of Scranton, PA. Living in a big city (Philadelphia, and Chicago before that), I often felt utterly deprived of forest-bathing and its healing, rejuvenating, nourishing properties.
I now live about a 5 minute drive away from a forested area in Northeast Philly, and I can't get there enough. I could spend hours there every day, if only time (and life) permitted!
I really loved your detail about your internal world, how it doesn't go away, even when you close your eyes. What poignant way to descirbe the experience! I used to think I was ~plagued~ by my inner world - how I couldn't "shut it up," or "turn it off." Nowadays, I often feel thankful for my rich inner world and inner dialogue, knowing I can keep myself company in lonely moments, but also realizing I am also in constant observation - the wonder, curiosity never seems to cease. : )
“If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things that are artificial, the alienation from the sources of our strength.”
― Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder: A Celebration of Nature
Thank you dear Sarah! Thank you too for bringing back fond and snowy! memories of our "tiny" hike near Tamanaswas Falls. Whether everyone can be a writer or not, we can celebrate that we humans are part of nature, and through time spent outdoors, can develop into writers as we journal, do ecology, or are simply spiritually-inspired to share our revelations with the world.
what a lovely essay, and one I feel such kinship to! I grew up in a small town, in the middle of the forest, about 10 miles north of Scranton, PA. Living in a big city (Philadelphia, and Chicago before that), I often felt utterly deprived of forest-bathing and its healing, rejuvenating, nourishing properties.
I now live about a 5 minute drive away from a forested area in Northeast Philly, and I can't get there enough. I could spend hours there every day, if only time (and life) permitted!
I really loved your detail about your internal world, how it doesn't go away, even when you close your eyes. What poignant way to descirbe the experience! I used to think I was ~plagued~ by my inner world - how I couldn't "shut it up," or "turn it off." Nowadays, I often feel thankful for my rich inner world and inner dialogue, knowing I can keep myself company in lonely moments, but also realizing I am also in constant observation - the wonder, curiosity never seems to cease. : )
I'm really grateful you shared this reflection, Katie--it's landing with me in such a warm, luscious way.
“If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things that are artificial, the alienation from the sources of our strength.”
― Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder: A Celebration of Nature
Thank you dear Sarah! Thank you too for bringing back fond and snowy! memories of our "tiny" hike near Tamanaswas Falls. Whether everyone can be a writer or not, we can celebrate that we humans are part of nature, and through time spent outdoors, can develop into writers as we journal, do ecology, or are simply spiritually-inspired to share our revelations with the world.
<3!!!!!!!!!