How walking among the trees in the countryside restored my sanity

I have been having serious conversations with myself among the trees. They are good listeners, and they do reply to me in their own way, especially when there is a brisk wind and the leaves are whipped into a frenzy of conversation with each other. I join in the dialogue and we have a good tete-a-tete and heart to heart. We enjoy a good laugh and revel in the joy of being outdoor in the fresh country air.

I find it so much easier to walk among the trees, communing with nature, and enjoying the animals by myself, in peace and harmony, than actually talking about my inner psychology and sensitivities in everyday life with real people who I believe (maybe unfairly) could be judging me.

For many people, talking about themselves is pretty easy. For me, it is one of the hardest things to do. I have basically always been better at focusing on others, and not allowing much time for self reflections and self indulgence.

Life can be so full of stresses that we move from one activity to the next, without really realizing the exacting toll that the body and mind pay each day, while we make more and more demands to achieve our daily goals.

After a particularly debilitating move to a new job and location, I realized that I was not only suffering from mental exhaustion and stress, but I felt like I was also losing my sanity. Not knowing what to do or who to turn to, I started taking long walks.

I was used to walking in the city. The noise and hustle and bustle made it only a walk, enjoyable in and of itself, but found severely lacking when compared to strolling in peace and quiet along long stretches of roads and pathways in the beauty of the countryside, covered in flowers of every imaginable variety, and trees of varying sizes, shapes and denominations.

There were oak trees, red, scarlet, black and white oaks, huge, ringed and strong, providing shade, solace and wonder in their sprawling roots, boughs and twigs, acorns and distinctive leaves bidding a fond welcome. The oaks (quercus rubra, quercus velutina and quercus alba) among other 'quercuses', are my favorites trees, they are so motherly and warm.

Cotton trees, so tall they made me wonder, since my image of cotton trees were of my ancestors picking cotton, painfully, regretfully, off small reachable trees. There were sprinklings of pine trees, redwood, juniper, spruce and many varieties that I had no idea what they were.

There were tree lined groves of trees so thick that they clung to each other overhead forming a canopy for miles. They whispered to each other all the time, but whenever the wind picked up there was a cacophony of leaves and sounds that virtually made music to the discerning ears. It sounded like they were conversing with each other, and inviting those walking under their cover to join in and be soothed, melting worries and stresses away in calm and utter freedom.

I would stand still sometimes and just listen. The tree angels voices could soothe away any sorrow, and invite a pleasant smile of contentment.

I never felt more alive than when I was outside in this place. I could not wait to finish working at the end of the day, don my sneakers and just release the pent up energy into total freedom of inhibitions and hang ups to the open air and the silent sky. On weekends I would double my effort, and the whispering, singing and talkative trees were my best friends.

There were all kinds of animals and creatures of all persuasions sharing the delights of the always welcoming and open spaces. There were deer, foxes,, squirrels, many varieties of birds, prairie rats, butterflies with their lovely multicolored wings playfully flitting here and there, silent curious companions. The best types of friends. There were bees, never too close for harm, some pesky flies, and when it rained, mosquitos, ouch! But don't we all deserve our own enjoyment of nature.

I felt free, uninhibited, and completely at peace with myself and the world around me. In those moments when I walked, I let go of everything and everyone and became one with the universe.

For every new day discovered, I would write a new poem. I now have a whole plethora of topics on my conversations to and with the trees, in my little notebook.

In addition to their being very funny or maybe just a little wistful, I found jotting down the words every day to be very therapeutic.

POEM

~Hello trees

It is hot today, the winds are stilled

Your voices muted

Your limbs bowed

That is ok

Although I hope you are not mad at me

For always invading your space

And absconding with a flower or two

Let's just hang out

Quiet like

The sky is rumbling

I will be back tomorrow

After you have quenched your thirst

Maybe you will be in a better mood

To welcome your friend

With a gentle hug~

I invite anyone who gets told that they need a break from the monotony, to move house or drive the RV to a peaceful tree and flower filled landscape and walk, run, dance, and sing their troubles away.

Hug a tree. Or hug many trees.

No matter where you are. Or when you are.

Believe me, they are hugging back, you just cannot see the soothing arms. Of course they told me so, they will speak to you if they think that you are worthy.

I try getting pictures of the elusive animals, they will not stand still. I try chasing after the deer and foxes, they swag their tails and dart into the underbrush. I will get a picture that is not a blur at sometime, I am sure of it.

I am no longer in the beautiful countryside. Circumstances require me to be kind of like a nomad, but not really. Lives, jobs and families sometimes are perpetually in motion.

Wherever I am required to lay my head though, I now seek out the best spot to keep my walking, running, dancing and communing with whatever trees and flowers that are willing to avail themselves of their kindness as a positive start or end to my day.

There is that freedom of letting go anywhere and anytime there is a desire for it. It can be found mainly in the state of mind, in the mental space that each of us will allow it to bloom and flower.

I found mine.

Among the trees.

Freedom is free, one just has to figure out their own pathway to obtaining it.

N.A.