Nature understands me.

I returned to the Upper Blue River Trail loop today. I hiked alone. Well, I had my thoughts to accompany me.

Hiking alone through a winter forest cloaked in dampness is an experience of hushed solitude. During a solo hike in the mist or winter, the quiet world presents a distinct pleasure. The air hangs heavy; the silence broken only by the soft drip of raindrops and the crunch of your boots on the frost-laced ground. Muffling fog creates a sense of intimacy with the surrounding landscape, highlighting the subtle sounds of dripping mist.

Bare branches, stark against the gray sky, reach out like skeletal fingers, while the evergreens stand stoic, cloaked in a mantle of icy needles. Dampness seeps into my clothes, a constant reminder of the chill that nips at my exposed skin.

Yet, there’s a strange beauty in this stark landscape, a sense of peace that comes from being alone amidst the quiet power of nature. The isolation fosters a sense of introspection, allowing my mind to wander freely amidst the muted scenery. In this quietude, I can truly appreciate the raw beauty of nature, the stillness broken only by the rhythm of my breath and the steady beating of my heart. It’s a feeling of complete immersion, a chance to be present in the moment and forge a personal connection with the grandeur of the natural world.

I enjoy nature for its purity. People often misinterpret things I say, and quickly jump to conclusions. Making assumptions of my intents. Nature exists in a state of pristine clarity, untouched by the muddled interpretations and miscommunications that plague human interaction. Its language is not one of words, but of cycles, patterns, and processes that unfold with an unwavering logic, unburdened by the complexities of subjective meaning. The sunrise paints the sky with vibrant hues, not to convey a message, but simply because it is the inevitable consequence of the Earth’s rotation. The crash of waves against the shore speaks not of anger or sorrow, but of the fundamental forces shaping the coastline. In nature, there is no room for misinterpretation, only the pure, unfiltered expression of a universe governed by its own set of rules. I wish human beings would take the same approach.

Until next time,

Tim

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