I am walking in the woods. Dry leaves crunch beneath my feet. Beaumont the Sheepadoodle bounds through the leaves and grasses surrounding us.
I walk and as I listen to the inviting crunch of the leaves I notice my mind is busy, filled with thoughts darting through my mind like Beaumont chasing a squirrel bounding through the forest.
I stop to watch their dance. Beaumont thinking he can catch the squirrel. The squirrel confident in his prowess and speed.
I stop and listen to my thoughts, trying to capture them but they are fast. Elusive. All I feel is the sensation of their wanting to capture the beauty around me by comparing it to what is happening around me and to how golden, or not, the leaves and trees and forest was yesterday.
“How often does that happen?” I wonder. “This constant comparison and judging of this moment against past moments?”
I think it’s probably a lot.
I step closer to a tree and stand beneath the autumn filled canopy its branches stretched out above me. I reach out and touch its gnarled trunk. “Here I am,” I whisper as I crane my neck and look up through its golden leaves to the clear blue sky high above.
And the tree stands in silent witness to my presence. Neither comparing nor judging how I am and how the world is in that moment.
“Be like the tree,” the voice of wisdom deep within me whispers. “Be. Here. Now.”
And so I breathe and close my eyes and let the presence of the tree fill me with its silence.
“Here. I am. Now.”
Namaste
Dare Boldly 
Ah, you’re a tree hugger! Who knew?
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LOL — YUP! 🙂
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Ahh …., Louise, how beautiful and true your post speak.
Hug from another tree hugger
🐿
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Hugs back! Branches and all. ❤
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Listening to our quiet wisdom voice changes everything. Thank you Louise for sharing your moment of insight and presence 💛
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So true Val. it does. ❤
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I actually laid down under the trees last week, carefully as the cows also walk in that pasture, and just watched the wind move them. It was delightful. I took a few pictures but I also focused on being in the moment. The sunshine. The harsh grass/little bush on my shoulder. The endless wind motion. The blue sky with these weird clouds.
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One of the best ways to spend an hour or two or a whole afternoon — though cow patties are something to watch out for!
Love your beautiful description Bernie. ❤
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I love to walk and hear the leaves crunch under my feet……..just that amazing sound keeps me in the moment…………
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Me too Wendi. Me too!
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This took me back to the days I would go for long walks through the bush
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Oh wow Joanne. That must have been amazing!
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