The River Flows
I grab my bag and pack the necessities to hit the woods for the day. Water, protein bars, some trail mix and an extra sweater. As I make my way to the car, I double check to make sure I have everything I need. While I sit down, I pull my app up on my phone and select a random trail to hike. Once I map it out, the excitement begins to build. In that period of time driving the thought of society fading and the sight of freedom on the horizon, the exhilaration escalates! It’s the most incredible feeling for me. It’s a love that gets lost when I’m in the concrete jungle for far too long. With the hollow trees, the dirt trails, the smell of mildew, the green scenery. Ah nature has set in….
As I pull off to the side of the road, I take a moment to breathe deeply. With the thought of leaving society for a few hours, I’m ready to enter “The Realm of the Woods”. This is where I leave everything behind me and recharge from the hustle and bustle along with its surroundings. As I grab my backpack and make my way to the trails, nothing is more rejuvenating than to get a good natural recharge in. Just as I start my hike, I take a deeper breath of fresh air then grasp onto the closest tree and I listen to the birds sing. This is how I decide as to which trail I will take. With so many options in the woods its always a difficult decision. With my feet commence the hike into the woods. I pause for a moment and let the negative energy weighing me down clear itself from me. Then I admire the scenery and let nature speak to me in a way that not many understand. As I continue down the wooded path, I notice the moss growing on the trees, and it makes me think about how things grow so naturally out in the woods. With the leaves that fall in the autumn, how it covers the ground with a natural mildew that helps the earth hibernate through the winter. Just for the spring to use that as a fertilizer to regrow. It’s like the evergreen that repeats its cycle from death to rebirth, but with every rebirth, the seeds spread more and take on more ground for new germination .
As I enjoy the earths natural vegetation I continue on with my hike. With a few more steps in I hear the currents flowing with calmness. Another tranquilizing sound that soothes the soul in many ways. Just a few more “skips and hops” away and I will finally reach the river. I can hear the currents getting louder and the air getting cooler. Although it was a hot day the coolness has helped regulate my body temperature. I’ve finally reached the river and I can decompose with some more grounding. It's similar to earthing but with the electrons of the water. As the water flows alongside me I remove my shoes and socks and let the water rush through my feet. Feeling the water move between my toes that it is so rejuvenating I decided to let the water flow through my fingers as well. As I find a rock I slowly make my way to it and continue to let the river take its course restoring the (ions). While my hands ride the stream and my feet stay grounded the calmness sets in. It being therapeutic, I sit and watch the water flow through my fingers and toes. This can hypnotizes me for a period of time. As the flow starts to rush through me, rejuvenates me, provides clarity of my mind, my soul and my body. There’s this quote that has so much meaning that makes me reflect on a lot …
“No man ever steps in the same river twice. For it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” ~Heraclitus
As I look up above, I see the sun beaming through the gaps of the trees. I hear the birds singing, the chipmunks jumping around and the wind blowing through the leaves. With that being said, there is just so much peace and relaxation in the woods that you could regain. As I separate myself from the river and dry my feet off by walking a little barefoot through the grass. I continue with my hike. I look around my surroundings and notice how nature has this weird cycle of nurturing things and it’s beautiful. I mean look at the woodpeckers… The trees harbor the bugs and the woodpeckers use their beaks to peck away at the trees to catch the little bugs to feed. And the trees still survive. Nature just has its way. So much to learn, so much natural medicine to be cultivated.
At some point I do have to end my journey into the woods and face the reality of society once again. With every step I trek through, with the dirt beneath my feet, with every breath of air I take, I’ve never felt so at ease in an open space with so much beauty. With the natural dopamine and the way earth (inherent ability of healing.) I don’t think there is really any words to prove that nature has the ability to show its healing powers unless you have felt them.
As I put my socks and shoes back on I proceed on making my way back to society. With the solitude and reconnecting with our natural habitat makes me feel whole again. To have society shut me down just to build a shell around me but in the end it’s not an ending it’s just a “to be continued…”
As the song Society (by Eddie Vedder) says “Society, have mercy on me
I hope you’re not angry if I disagree…”
