IN NATURA
Thursday, September 2, 2021
My morning ambulation around commonplace territory, sometimes that means deliberately dragging weary bones around well-trodden paths when I’d rather be sleeping – or it’s hobbling on a sore ankle down a slope when I’d prefer an ice-pack on my couch. Partly mindless exercise, perhaps like writing out affirmations one foot-fall/thought at a time, clearing the mind to make way for it to be busy.
Most days, however, it’s lifting my spirits.
I don’t mean that in Thoreau’s Walden ways.
Nor that it is not.
Semiotics apply here, and I expect semiotic aficionados would agree, every sight is a semiotic traffic sign of nature seasons, growth, or decay. As the growing season is ending, change is in the air.
True, I admire nature and appreciate what I see, but the better part for me is the tranquility, the quiet, the peaceful easy feeling I get from every stand of trees I pass, every matted patch of grass where deer overnighted, every pathway littered with leaves and whatever the wind brought.
A day without a morning walk, however brief, wouldn’t be morning for me – integral and inspiring.
There are lots of lovely things in our day, every day – but this process of morning walk morning writing has been the foundation of mental/emotional stability for me, so well, and for so long I cannot imagine what life would be like without the freedom to put words on a page and the freedom to walk in nature, look at nature and to be in nature.
Our body takes us out into the world, but being out is only part of that balance – we need to let our heads point and our eyes explore. Sometimes we can do that too, up close and personal with people, but that’s a different kind of exploration. Walking in my park connects me with the world.
Reader feedback:
Dearest Mark: Covid has definitely changed my perspective about death. I have never being afraid of death, nor do I ever consider suicide myself, however after those difficult covid first few months when we all lost people unexpectedly I find myself thinking death as the ultimate rest, all those lost to covid are no longer worried, inconvenienced or afraid of covid, war, family, economy, politics, etc...they are at peace:) Do take care and keep on writing, saludos desde el soleado Cancún, AG, Cancun, Mex.