in every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~john muir
like you i’m sure, i was shocked and saddened and dismayed to hear about the horrific terror attacks in paris this past weekend.
tripp and i were at home all weekend, and even though we were busy outside for a large part of the day, we had the tv on in the kitchen the whole time. mostly it was for tripp so he could check football scores. but in between football updates, the networks would interrupt with breaking news stories about the attacks. all day long i felt my heart getting heavier and heavier.
to make matters worse, my social media feeds were also blowing up with new stories, shared updates, and personal rants about the general state of affairs in the county. then came the political analyses and how the attacks affect the looming election year. i mean…i get it. we’re all just trying to make sense of things. we all just want to feel safe. but by 4:00 p.m. i’d had enough. my head was spinning and my heart was hurting…i knew it was time to unplug.
often, when my heart is troubled, i find that talking a walk is very comforting. so i grabbed my camera and set off down the block. as i walked and took pictures, i found myself feeling calmer – more clear-headed. less anxious.
i talk alot on my blog about photography and how it has taught me to see my life differently. photography has had a profound effect in my life and i think my short photowalk on saturday is just one more example of its healing power.
there is the beauty of course. we are at peak season for fall foliage in my neck of the woods. shades of red, gold, burgundy, copper, and coral are everywhere – it’s just amazing. the change in colors is something that never ceases to amaze me.
but also, nature reminds me that i am part of something much bigger than myself. the seasons remind me that there is an order to things…even if I don’t exactly understand. and the light reinforces my belief in a good and loving God who is always present in the midst of our suffering.
it was exactly what i needed.
everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~john muir
i am not so naive to i think that taking a walk and snapping a few pictures will solve the problems of the world. i am also not burying my head in the sand and pretending that everything is ok. we have big problems in this world and i know that a ‘mary sunshine’ attitude won’t fix it. but what my walk did give me was some much needed perspective. and in the process, some much needed peace. and i think that’s a good place to start.
peace, kelly
I feel exactly how you do. I could only ingest so much of the news, before I had to stop watching it (that and I didn’t want to explain my 5-year-old everything that was happening, when there is no real reason for him to understand at that age).
I also feel that there is nothing i can physically do about the situation. The only thing I CAN do is pray for the people directly affected, and be grateful to God for another day. Sitting around sad, outraged, or angry all day long or days, weeks, etc won’t do anything. I think staying positive and hopeful and trusting God will help others more than our fears and upset. Sometimes the only thing we can do about a situation is heal from it.
PS: your pictures are gorgeous <3
Walking has been one of the greatest stress relievers for me. Not get out and walk your mile each day, but walking with my camera and focusing on creation. It doesn’t take me long to replace stress with gratitude! Wonderful post and gorgeous images!