In the summertime my family would travel to a little campground two hours away from our house. We called this place “The Hill”. The mountainous landscape of Pennsylvania, hid this tiny patch of land just for us. There I learned to love the woods. The drive was magical. Along the sides of the car were cliff faces, and the elegantly flowing Susquehanna River. The campground was on a dirt road directly passing through a farm - the only structure for a couple miles at least - and over a rickety covered bridge that my great grandfather and his friends built by hand a lifetime ago. There were cows just hanging out across the creek we always played in, and there were many creatures you could see if you walked into the dense forest behind this mini gravel haven where we relaxed and made memories together.
It is the greenest place I’ve ever seen. I felt at peace in that place. I could really hear my thoughts. At times it felt like the trees themselves were whispering to me and trusting me with the noise of their voices between the subtle rustling of their leaves in the wind.
Most of the kids at the campground spent the day riding dirt bikes until it became too dark, and then transition to extreme games of cops and robbers. Like any twelve year old boy, a game of cops and robbers was the highlight of the week and I would heartily join in. I was unlike all the other kids, however, in that I hated moving fast and would avoid dirt-bikes like the plague. I rode dirt-bike once during a camping trip and crashed into a bush within a measly five minutes. My lack of interest was nowhere near any “wisdom beyond my years” and more related to my general desire to move slow and avoid any sort of overstimulation or unnecessary pain.
That said, I would spend the day wandering the woods of “The Hill” with either with my mom or myself or occasionally a friend who happened to not be riding dirt-bike that day.
When I wandered with my mom, we’d get lost in wonderful and memorable conversations that were only made possible by the clarity of consciousness only the forest could provide. Especially when you don’t have a watch or a phone, time becomes infinitely irrelevant as you suddenly become aware of the life taking place all around you in every plant, tree, and bug.
When I wandered with a friend, we’d climb up strange, rocky places, feeling the earth between our fingertips and scraping our knees on her jagged edges. We’d run around thin trails beaten down by older relatives we’ve never met and count the rings of tree stumps to see how old that tree was before it died. We’d learn the feeling of wonder together as we experienced this vast feeling in the empty forest where you could hear no cars or other people. We were painfully drawn into the moment.
When I would go off alone, however, is when I really fell in love with the forest and how it helped me to feel. One year, I brought my guitar in a backpack case so I could hike into the woods, and strum for a little while amidst the gift of the forest’s vibrant privacy. I took a hike up the trail I normally took and decided to veer off to reach the quietest place possible.
Time stopped and I could feel my body relax into the present moment. When walking in the woods I could feel my shoulders drop along with my blood pressure and a soft, equanimous smile stretch would across my face.
On that particular walk with the guitar, I remember stumbling upon a clearing where I suddenly stepped inside of a supernatural quiet. Suddenly the ever-present emotional claustrophobia dispersed as I was all alone in a wide-open space within a wide-open space. I sat down and played my guitar while leaning on a tree that seemed kind enough. It felt so right to be sitting in the woods alone and making beautiful noise. The forest taught me the purpose of music that cloudless afternoon. I put my guitar down and the forest wrapped me in a silent embrace as I stared up at the stretching sky behind the intricately woven canopy. Every creature was still and reverent including me.
Suddenly everything outside the forest felt so small and far away, and there was nothing to worry about. I understood for the first time what true peace can feel like. The forest holds a certain wisdom for us. The wild of the world is what gave birth to the human race and it is as much a part of us as our languages, cultures, religions, and even our own bodies. In the effervescent green, in the indiscriminate wall of gentle noise, in the rustling branches, and the scurrying creatures, the freedom from what ails each of us awaits.
Only if we have eyes to see it, and ears to hear it.
About the Creator
Joshua Leininger
"we're all just walking each other home" / writing from an attic in Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Keep reading
More stories from writers in Earth and other communities.
Chinese Planetary Engineering: The Great Green Wall and the Reclamation of Climate
There are junctures in history where a civilization no longer chooses between comfort and progress, but between adaptation and extinction. At the dawn of the new millennium, China hit one of those silent thresholds where geography ceases to be a backdrop and becomes an adversary. The desert was advancing, not as a metaphor for decay, but as a physical, methodical, and relentless force. Sand was devouring the horizon, winds grew heavy with dust, and the soil lost its fertile memory, taking with it the promise of social stability.
By Laurenceau Porte5 days ago in Earth
US Warns Airlines About Military Activity in Parts of Latin America
Commercial aviation is built on predictability—clearly defined airspace, coordinated air traffic control, and shared international rules. When that predictability is disrupted, even subtly, the ripple effects can stretch far beyond the cockpit. That is exactly why a recent warning from the United States has caught the attention of airlines, governments, and travelers alike. In early 2026, US aviation authorities issued an advisory warning airlines about military activity in parts of Latin America, urging pilots to exercise heightened caution when flying over certain regions. While no immediate restrictions or flight bans were imposed, the message itself was clear: something in the skies has changed, and the risks—however limited—can no longer be ignored. This development is not just about aviation safety. It reflects a growing intersection between geopolitics, military operations, and civilian infrastructure in a region that has long balanced cooperation with tension. What Exactly Did the US Warn About? The advisory, released through official aviation safety channels, highlighted concerns over potential military activity affecting airspace across parts of Mexico, Central America, South America, and nearby oceanic regions. Airlines were advised to remain vigilant during all phases of flight, including cruising at high altitudes, takeoff, and landing. Unlike routine notices related to weather systems or airport congestion, this warning explicitly referenced security-related risks. These include the possibility of unexpected military movements, temporary airspace disruptions, and interference with navigation systems that modern aircraft rely on for safe operations. Importantly, the warning did not accuse any specific country of wrongdoing, nor did it suggest an immediate danger to passengers. Instead, it served as a precaution—one designed to ensure airlines adjust flight planning, monitoring, and communication protocols accordingly. Why Military Activity Matters to Civil Aviation To the average traveler, military exercises or operations may seem distant from the experience of flying on a commercial jet. In reality, the two worlds often share the same skies. Civilian aircraft depend heavily on satellite navigation, coordinated air traffic control, and stable airspace rules. Military operations—especially those involving fast-moving aircraft, surveillance systems, or electronic equipment—can introduce uncertainty into that environment. Some of the key risks aviation authorities monitor include: Unplanned military aircraft movements that may not follow civilian flight patterns Temporary airspace closures or restrictions that require last-minute rerouting Navigation signal disruptions, whether accidental or intentional Increased congestion in strategic corridors used by both civilian and military flights While these risks are typically managed through coordination and communication, heightened military activity raises the stakes. The FAA’s advisory suggests that such activity has reached a level where additional caution is warranted. The Geopolitical Context Behind the Warning The timing of the advisory is not accidental. Latin America has seen a noticeable rise in security operations and military coordination involving the United States over the past year. These efforts are largely focused on counter-narcotics missions, maritime security, and regional stability, particularly in areas with strategic shipping routes or ongoing political tension. At the same time, broader global dynamics—ranging from great-power competition to shifting alliances—have increased the strategic importance of air and sea routes across the Western Hemisphere. From Washington’s perspective, issuing an aviation warning is not about alarmism. It is about acknowledging that military and security activities in the region may temporarily affect civilian systems, including aviation. How Airlines Are Responding For airlines, advisories like this are not unusual—but they are taken seriously. Most major carriers already operate with layered safety systems that allow them to respond quickly to changing conditions. In practical terms, this warning may lead to: Slight route adjustments to avoid specific airspace Enhanced pilot briefings before flights Increased coordination with air traffic controllers Closer monitoring of navigation and communication systems So far, there have been no widespread flight cancellations or suspensions linked directly to the warning. That suggests airlines view the risk as manageable, provided proper precautions are followed. Reactions from Latin American Governments Some governments in the region have been quick to reassure the public. Officials have emphasized that their national airspace remains safe and fully operational, and that civilian flights continue without disruption. This response highlights an important tension: while the US warning is precautionary, it can still affect public perception. Tourism, business travel, and investor confidence are all sensitive to suggestions of instability—even when no immediate danger exists. As a result, many countries are walking a careful line between cooperating on aviation safety and defending their reputation for stability. What This Means for Passengers For travelers, the key takeaway is simple: commercial aviation remains safe. Warnings like this are designed to prevent incidents, not predict them. Passengers flying through or over affected regions may experience slightly longer flight times or minor schedule adjustments, but there is no indication of increased danger to civilian aircraft. In fact, the existence of such advisories demonstrates how seriously aviation authorities take even low-probability risks. A Sign of a More Complex World The US warning to airlines is a reminder that modern air travel does not exist in a vacuum. As military operations, security concerns, and geopolitical rivalries evolve, civilian systems—from shipping lanes to flight paths—are increasingly affected. This moment underscores a broader reality: the skies are becoming more crowded, more contested, and more interconnected with global politics. Managing that complexity will require continued transparency, cooperation, and vigilance from governments, regulators, and airlines alike. For now, planes continue to fly, passengers continue to travel, and the system continues to work. But behind the scenes, aviation authorities are quietly adjusting to a world where safety is shaped not just by weather and mechanics—but by geopolitics as well.
By Muhammad Hassana day ago in Earth
So You Decided To Become a Nurse Practitioner:
So you decided to become an "Advanced Practice" nurse. Congratulations!... is what I would say if this was a good idea. Grad school? In this economy? What were you thinking? Likely it was something along the lines of either 1) “I've seen these other chucklefucks do it— Why can't I?” or even 2) “I've got a nice career, I should shake it up. I miss feeling like I have no clue what I'm doing.”
By Sandor Szabo2 days ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.