Hear the trees …

What do YOU do at the end of an overwhelming day? Sometimes I like to head outdoors and just start walking. I begin with feeling the wind on my cheeks … I allow it to play with my hair. I sense the warm sun as it kisses my skin. Then I look for flowers or listen for the birds singing. Soon the rhythm of my footsteps and the beating of my heart begins to help me find sanity.

But have you ever tried walking in the woods? There’s a copse of cottonwood trees near where I live, and those babies can be pretty messy when they lose their “cotton.” But there’s a special kind of sound they make when the wind rustles their leaves. It is so calming!

In some Native American cultures, the cottonwood tree is believed to be a messenger between the human and spiritual worlds. I don’t know if this is true, but it does stir something magical inside me when I consider the idea. No matter how uptight I am feeling, the minute I hear that sound, I feel immediately calm.

It costs no money to go outside and walk in the woods. But there is so much to gain. I invite you to give it a try. Let the sounds, the sights, and the smells remind you that it’s going to be okay. No matter what the day has served up, the birds will still be singing; the sun will be trying to kiss your face; the breeze will be there to soothe you — if you will only let it.

Just look, listen and love what nature offers. Just breathe. Just be. And begin again ~