The morning hours of May 1 have been among the best so far this month. I passed them at a favorite local park, al fresco, with avian and other critters, away from humans. Birds do not make rude remarks, cut or flip me off in traffic. Squirrels do not show me the cold shoulder because I donโt share their religious or political convictions. Prairie dogs do not snub me on account of my eye, hair, or skin color, inadequate attire, awkward accent.
My need to be outdoors is inversely proportional to my level of frustration with (wo)mankind. Whenever it reaches a high (or low) point, as happens increasingly frequently, nothing helps restore my equilibrium, or at least inch me toward that elusive state, as simply being present in nature: seeing the sun rise, hearing the birds greet the new day with crystal-clear voices, watching the flowers open their faces to the light (or close them, as is the case with the dazzling night-blooming evening primrose whose petals curl and turn pink in the morning).
Monumental mountains grounded since times immemorial, trees rooted deeply in the earth, banks of condensing and dissipating clouds, the sunโs arc across the sky. They recall to me the big picture, put things in perspective. They help ground me, remind me that nature is cyclical, human nature included. That my own existence is ephemeral, that my real or perceived grievances are insignificant. We are here one moment, gone the next.
All I can do is savor the NOW, let go of matters vexatious, appreciate all that is good and beautiful: the cycles of the cosmos, the loveliness of the land, the verdant veil that finally adorns arbors after a long winter, the bright blossoms that beckon bees and butterflies, the birds that never fail to gladden the heart.
I love this post, the photos are stunning and so interesting, and I really enjoyed the thoughts and feelings that you’ve shared so beautifully. Thank you Tanja!
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I appreciate your appreciation, Liz! ๐
Best wishes,
Tanja
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Nothing like a good nature walk to put things in perspective! Lovely photos and I enjoyed reading this! ๐
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You are completely right. Thank you for accompanying me on my walk.
Best,
Tanja
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Tolle Bilder und tolle Worte! Die Wolken auf dem ersten Bild sind irre!
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Ich bedanke mich herzlich. Mit dem Himmel hatte ich groรes Glรผck an dem Tag! ๐ฅ
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Oh Tanja, there will be no shortage of adoring comments here. Many of us use Nature as a reset, a way to keep sanity in check; what (civilized?) humanity undoes with a word snipe, Nature puts easily back in place again. Beautiful words for delightful photos. Al fresco is apparently the way to go!! Cheers!
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I appreciate all you expressed, Shannon, thank you. My great fear is the ongoing and worsening loss of nature because of our ignorance or wantonness, and what then?
I so admire the work you do with the kids. If they don’t develop an appreciation for nature, there is little hope for it.
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Children are so worth my efforts. Itโs all Iโve got, and it gives me hope for my own children’s futures. Hang tough. Thereโs more of us out there than youโre aware of. ๐
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I hope you are right, Shannon!
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Cool clouds in the first image.
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Thank you! I happened to be there at just the right time.
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Nature is always ready to teach us lessons …. and some people are ready to appreciate them and to learn from her, some people are not.
Thank you for this wonderful post and the accompanying pictures, and I am glad to be part of your community, where there are so many like-minded people.
Kindest regards from Canada,
Christa
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Thank you kindly, Christa. I am grateful for you and for so many other like-minded friends I have met through blogging.
All the best,
Tanja
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Tanja, I’m with you on all of this.
A book suggestion popped into my mind. You might like The Outermost House, by Henry Beston. I think it would be right up your alley.
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Thank you for your support, Neil, and for the book recommendation. I just looked up the summary and think I will love it. The only problem I foresee is that it will make me want to spend time at the ocean! ๐
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I believe we all could benefit from a daily dose of natureโค๏ธ
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I wholeheartedly agree, Dwight. Thank you!
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Was fรผr wunderschรถne Bilder und eine traumhafte Landschaft! Sehr sehr schรถn. Liebe Grรผรe, Almuth
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Tanja, isn’t it odd how easy it is to get distracted and lose track of the big picture? Wishing you happiness in your NOW.
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How right you are, Andrea, it is so easy to lose sight of what is truly important. I appreciate your good wishes, and hope you are happy in your present adventure! ๐
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Your explicit truths are so sweetly depicted! Very heartwarming!!!
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I appreciate your comment very much!
Best wishes,
Tanja
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Liebe Tanja, ich kann gut verstehen, was du meinst. Und ja, die Natur bringt auch mich am besten wieder runter, zurรผck zu mir. In der Natur ist stets alles richtig. Es gibt kein falsch. Fรคllt ein Baum – wird er zersetzt und ernรคhrt andere. Gibt es keine Nahrung, wรคchst nur noch ein Kraut. Wird etwas รผberschwemmt, kommen andere Lebewesen. Nur wir Menschen wollen immer etwas anderes., mรถchten gerne, daร alles so lรคuft, wie WIR es gerade wollen. Aber so lรคufts in der Regel nicht. Loslassen ist vermutlich das Zauberwort. Alles hat seinen Platz. Nichts ist falsch. Alles ist, wie es ist. Die Natur zeigt es uns ๐ Vielen Dank fรผr deine schรถnen Bilder, die mir ein Lรคcheln aufs Gesicht zaubern! Das entspannt!! Liebe Grรผรe, Almuth
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Ich danke Dir, liebe Almuth, fรผr Dein Verstรคndnis und die gemeinsame Liebe fรผr die Natur. Loslassen ist gut, ist aber nicht immer ganz so leicht. รber Dein Lรคcheln und Deinen Kommentar freue ich mich sehr.
Herzliche Grรผรe,
Tanja
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Von leicht habe ich nichts gesagt ๐ Ich arbeite selbst gerade dran ๐ Liebe Grรผรe und gute Nacht, Almuth
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A very nice write, Tanja! ๐ And, utterly fantastic shots to boot.
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Your kind words make me very happy.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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Tanja – I was delighted to hear that when you need an adjustment that you go to nature. I love to go outdoors and be in nature. Nothing makes me feel better than getting outside and seeing animals or out on the trail and being in wilderness. Your photos are as beautiful as ever. I loved this post. -Jill
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Thank you, Jill. I think many of us crave nature’s restorative power. No other experience makes me feel as alive as spending time outdoors, among wild beings. May we always have that opportunity!
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I hope so as well. ๐
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Du hast die Kraft und den Einfluss der Natur so wunderbar einfรผhlsam beschrieben und gezeigt. Es ist mir manchmal echt ein Rรคtsel, dass einige Menschen รผberhaupt keinen Zugang zu ihr haben. LG Simone
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Danke, liebe Simone. Da ich mir ein Leben ohne Verbindung zur Natur nicht mehr denken kann, ist es auch fรผr mich nur schwer nachvollziehbar, wenn manche Menschen so gar kein Interesse haben. Aber um ehrlich zu sein, war mir das (leider) nicht immer so wichtig. Aber besser spรคt als nie!
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So beautiful and so true – your pictures and your words!
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Thank you! ๐
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So wahr, Tanja.
Erst heute Morgen bekam ich mal wieder eine Lektion in Punkto menschlicher Rรผcksichtslosigkeit, als ich Nachbarn bat, ihren Kater doch wรคhrend der kurzen Zeit, in der unsere Gartenvรถgel flรผgge werden, tagsรผber in der Wohnung zu lassen.
“Wieso, ist doch nicht so schlimm, die paar Vรถgel!!!” war die Antwort.
Du hast einen wunderbaren Beitrag geschrieben und bebildert.
Ich liebe deine Worte und die fabelhaften Aufnahmen.
Lieben Dank dafรผr und liebe Grรผรe รผber den groรen Teich,
Brigitte
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Frau kรถnnte wahrlich an der Menschheit verzweifeln, und oft bin ich nahe dran. Doch dann mache ich immer wieder eine gute zwischenmenschliche Erfahrung, und gebe die Hoffnung nicht ganz auf. Der Umgang mit anderen Bloggern gehรถrt รผbrigens auch dazu. ๐
Ich danke Dir herzlich fรผr Deine netten Worte, und wรผnsche allen Bees ein erfreuliches Wochenende.
Herzlichst,
Tanja
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Beautiful post, Tanja, so much how I feel. A toast to the NOW with nature. Wonderful images, the first one is stunning! ๐
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Thank you, Donna. I am not surprised that you can relate, your love of and appreciation for nature is evident in all your posts.
Best,
Tanja
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Your first paragraph reminded me of this passage by Walt Whitman:
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-containโd;
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition;
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins;
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God;
Not one is dissatisfiedโnot one is demented with the mania of owning things;
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago;
Not one is respectable or industrious over the whole earth.
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Thank you for sharing these meaningful lines, Steve. I knew I was not alone in feeling the way I did (and often do).
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At the same time, we have to admit that Whitman wasn’t accurate in the next-to-the-last line. Many animal groups do have a hierarchy, and a high-ranking member may punish a lesser member who fails to show respect or who tries to take something reserved for the higher member.
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One has to assume he took poetic licence, Steve. ๐
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Your photoโs are stunning! Great job!
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I appreciate your kind comment very much!
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Such a heartfelt article! Nothing like being in nature that makes us forget about everything else and puts it all into perspective. Lovely photos and great writing, Tanja! ๐
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As always, thank you for your kind words, Pooja. I know many of us seek refuge in nature. All the more reason to protect it from being destroyed.
Best wishes,
Tanja
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Tanja! Me again. I’ve already expressed appreciation for this wonderful post but I wondered if you would allow me to repost this in its entirety on my blog as part of the ‘Where and What is Beauty?’ Series, and as usual I would fully credit you and link back to your blog. Would you please let me know if this would be ok with you?
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Hi Liz,
I am honored whenever you choose to re-blog one of my posts.
Thank you kindly.
Tanja
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Fabulous Tanja! Not sure when, but it will definitely happen! Thank you very much ๐
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on NatureOnNotice.
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Lovely post!
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[…] via Lessons Of Nature โ tanja britton […]
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[…] Reblogged From:ย ย Lessons Of Nature […]
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You have a fantastic bird page.
I wish you lovely walks in nature.
YR
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on some of my older post.
Walks in nature keep me sane (if I can claim to be sane ๐).
Best,
Tanja
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