to release steam is to let go just as autumn leaves leave their temporary places behind on a chilly October morn every haystack in the village decided, with a hive-mind, just as the sun rose & after the beating rain of the frigid night, to release steam to the sky above grounded by their spire sitting heavy with patient resilience waiting for their moment to be carted away to become what they were born to be - Cheryl M.
Oh, how time is changing! And how times are changing — literally and figuratively. Our daylight savings time ended this weekend, and even though it was bright an hour earlier this morning, it still never feels quite right. Because now, the evening dark will arrive, also, an hour earlier. Which means we need to get our outdoor chores done before the sun goes down. It’s just a temporary jet lag, we’ll be back on track by tomorrow.
Now, that most of the leaves have fallen, you can see, and feel, that cold is on the way.
Which means more cutting of firewood for us… and purchasing of dry firewood from our neighbor too, because in the mountains, one must always think several months ahead. Well, this is true for any homesteader, or anyone with a strong sense of self-reliance, it just makes sense to be prepared.
Are you ready for winter? Or the expected & unexpected challenges that we may all be facing ahead?
If one of your intentions in this life(time) is to live a simple life closer to nature, resilience is a trait that I suggest you tend to with all your might.
One of the best places to find inspiration for resilience is in nature.
You can find awe-xamples in the grassy meadows, the flowing waterways and in the trees themselves. If you get outside often enough, and if you ask us, that is daily, you’ll experience resilience even with the changing of seasons.
Like now, as winter silently approaches with the trees losing more and more leaves each day.
The ground is cold under our bare feet, but not yet uncomfortable. It is muddy, but not slimy. It is slippery, but not dangerous. It just is.
The sooner you come to accept that nature is here to help you heal and find joy in life, the sooner you’ll be healthier and happier, stronger and more resilient too.
So, what are you waiting for? If you haven’t found the chance to get outside yet today, do it now! And do it quick, because you never know what you may miss.
If I hadn’t stepped outside this morning to view the rising sun, I would have missed this steaming haystack in the October sunlight. Would I have lost anything by missing it? No, I wouldn’t. But did I gain something by experiencing it? Yes, indeed.
I gained a magic moment that I’m unlikely to forget. That’s reason enough for me to get outside every chance I get.
As for the journal prompt of the day:
Who is the most resilient person you know? What is it about them that you admire?
Reflective writing, just like being out in nature, can enrich our lives in so many ways. Use the above journal prompt to explore what resilience means to you, as you think about how to increase the awareness of it in your own life.
Until next time,
