A Blessing Reconceived
Do you ever feel a little boxed in? Surrounded by walls on all sides and houses here, there, and everywhere along my terrace street, I try to find time to check in with myself daily. I’ve been aware for some time that I’m not entirely comfortable here; certainly not claustrophobic by any stretch, though, a little cagey nonetheless.
So, I resolved to start this morning in a more befitting manner. A hearty breakfast and a coffee, then a walk to awaken some clarity. Soon, my musings turn to gratitude.
Not so long ago, I wrote a piece entitled “A Forgotten Blessing”, wherein I discussed the reimagined significance of nature in the grips of lockdown. Now, as the weather starts to improve and temperatures rise, the prospect of an unexplored summer looms on the horizon, and the promise of renewed optimism appears more tangible.
There’s a quote by Robert Louis Stevenson that offers some insight, it reads “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”
To say I romanticise nature is accurate. But that’s the way it’s always been, for as long as I can remember. Now a man approaching his thirties, I’m fortunate enough to share my ideals and notions with an understanding, like-minded partner, along with an equally adventurous puppy whose bursts of sustained energy mean she’s always game for an escapade of any sort.
It’s on those explorations to the natural world that time and anxieties seem to melt away, never with absolute finality, but certainly to a largely carefree level. The three of us find absolute contentment in the present moment and joyful inspiration from the simple beauty unfolding all around us.
As lockdown eases, places like Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve, The Warren and a rewarding trail in Peene offer us a safe haven and an abundance of that much-desired serenity. My creative tendencies are given space to unwind, and burdens are unloaded like a snake shedding its skin. Soon after, the words quickly find their way onto their page.
Thank you for reading, sincerely.
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