On this first day of autumn (in this part of the globe) maybe it’s a good time to take a walk in the woods.
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is too dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartanlike as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion.” Henry David Thoreau (from Walden)
I first heard this favorite quote years ago watching the movie “Dead Poets Society” in the theater. I tried writing it out in my notebook (in the dark not an easy thing to do.) Locating Walden in the library afterwards I took down Thoreau’s words and placed them in my mind and heart.
When I was younger it seemed like a good maxim, carpe diem and all that. To seize each day as it comes, making the most of each day, hour, and minute even.
Sometimes that’s not easy to do when life is hard and mean. When troubles gather around us, weighing down our hearts and lives with heavy burdens.
Taking a page from Thoreau’s book: taking a walk in the woods can help our perspective, especially in autumn when glorious leaves glisten around us. Bright colors pop as trees transition from healthy green to the barrenness of winter to come. Kind of crazy, that leaves pop with color as they die. Don’t mean to be morbid, but isn’t that a challenge?
To pop with color, to appreciate what’s good around us even when tough stuff abounds?
To live in this moment, deeply, to choose to corner the sublime vs. the mean stuff?
On this first day of autumn, take a walk in the woods and take a few deep breaths.
Breathe deeply, breathe deliberately.
Carpe diem – seize this day!
grace, peace & (reflective) autumn walks
Virginia : )
p.s. If you haven’t seen “Dead Poets Society,” it’s a long-time inspirational favorite of mine. When it came out in 1989 I saw it four times in the movie theater – a rare occurrence for this redhead to see something four times in the theater (that happened once again when Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” came out) but it was (and is) so impactful, even watching the DVD again today, many years later.
Roses in the Rubble 
Thank you for your pictures and your thoughts..wonderful blessings to me.
The trees are beautiful! A good long walk in the woods sounds like a great idea right now. Being so busy leaves no me time and I could definitely use some down time.
Michelle, as a tree groupie I enjoy walking in the woods near our home. This path is part of trails behind our neighborhood that make a quick 30 min walk beautiful & do-able. Blessings!🍂☀️🌳☀️🍂
Lovely thoughts and quotes too Virginia.
Thank you Arlene. It’s a blessing to have lovely wood trails behind our neighborhood that make a 30 minute walk a beautiful experience for tree groupies like me! 🎂☀️🌳☀️🍂
Well said 👍
Walking in the woods is good – walking with inspiring words even better! 🍂🌟🌳🌟
Beautiful photos.
We’re blessed to have lovely wood trails behind our neighborhood that make a 30 minute walk a beautiful experience. 🍂☀️🌳☀️🍂
I love this passage from Thoreau-and the movie Dead Poets too. Happy Autumn!
Happy Autumn Michele, although yesterday heat index here was over 100! Can’t wait for weather to get the memo it’s time for fall! Glad you are a Dead Poets Society groupie, too. Still inspires me all these years later! 🍂🌟🌳🌟🍂
It got cool here just this week! What a welcomed relief!
Michele, we finally have cooler temps here – Yippeee! Windows open, cool breezes, warm blankeys fluffed up, & Hot Chocolate!! 💨🍂🤗🍂💨
You really got me thinking in those lines about it being a challenge of sorts – how the leaves are at their most beautiful while facing some of their toughest moments. What a profound statement!
The beauty of Creation can take our breath away. The simplest, quietest moments walking among nature and becoming more aware of our perspective can change everything.
God bless you ♥
Isn’t it amazing how sometimes God does amazing things when we’re going through the toughest of times? Like you, Holly, I enjoy soaking in the beauty of nature thanking God for all those busy heavenly paintbrushes! Blessings!! 🍂☀️🌳☀️🍂
Love the colors. You’ve inspired ‘a walk in a nearby park’. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it…
http://bit.ly/2n69cIf
Walking in a nearby park sounds grand, Tim!! Blessings!! 🍂☀️🌳☀️🍂
Gorgeous pictures. I really need to visit Virginia.
https://invertedlogicblog.wordpress.com/2019/12/05/thriving-instead-of-merely-surviving/
Hope you get a chance to visit Virginia sometime!! 🌟😎🌟