AwakenCreative: Day 13 A 40-day Journey Of Self-Discovery

Good morning and awaken creative.

Day 13.

I've tried many things on in this life of mine,

Parakeets,

Goldfish,

Hamsters,

Cats,

Dogs,

Vegetables,

Flowers,

Grasses,

Ants,

Plum trees,

The beautiful bark of every tree,

Soil,

Swimming holes,

Lakes,

Oceans.

All of this trying on has led me to one truth that I frame my life around,

And that is this.

The true mentor,

Healer,

Spiritual director is nature itself.

This seeking after something to touch,

To hold,

To see,

To ignite the sensory perceptions of my world through this touch of bark,

Or water,

Or fur,

Or feather has spoken a truth back to me that is calming,

Refreshing,

Invigorating,

And freeing.

When just the right thing is found,

All the tight anxieties,

And worries,

And short breath disappear.

All of this seeking has led me to one thing,

One nature thing,

Trees.

I can take a walk through a forest.

I can simply step out the back door,

And lean against the rough bark of the elm,

Or reach up and grab that branch to hang from of the pear tree,

And I can be renewed.

I live near a small city park.

It's kind of a gem,

A hideaway.

Walking its paths,

I can worm my way to one specific tree.

It's in the process of being saved,

Because the weight of its branches is so heavy they've begun to hang to the ground.

Humans have come along and given it props to help keep its arms strong.

When I turn the path,

I can feel myself anticipating this tree ahead,

And once I reach it,

Anymore,

No matter who is around,

I try to reach my arms around and give it a hug.

I had my sons along on one of these trips,

And it took three of us,

And myself,

Three of them,

And myself,

To reach all the way around and touch fingers to fingers in a full embrace.

This tree has a heartbeat.

I of course can't hear it.

There's no audible sound,

Yet I know it's there.

Even if,

At the end of the day,

I discover I've only imagined it,

That's enough,

For in my imagination is reality.

Nature is my director,

My savior,

My counselor,

My mentor,

And my love.

What's yours?

There are dog people out there,

Bird watchers,

Flower lovers,

Ocean dwellers.

We can love it all,

But find your one thing today.

The simplest dandelion,

Or your most beloved dog,

And let it be your guide to awaken creative today.