For my final weekend before spring break ended (and after working all week!) I decided it was time to get away for a bit and truly get a break from all the stress around me. My family and I went hiking at Shenandoah and it was so beautiful , and hard, and hot, and tiring but just wonderful over all. This year I have developed a closeness with nature that is hard to measure and whenever I am exposed to so much wilderness and true “earth” I am completely mesmerized and taken over. Not only was the hike a huge physical challenge (and I wake up call that I’m really getting out of shape) but it showed me how overwhelming nature can be, how powerful it truly is and what nature is capable of creating. Let me make one thing clear, this was not a regular “walk on grass uphill” hike, but it was a “rocky, edgy and hard” hike.
After finally getting some sunshine and exposing myself to this “other world” around me, I really got the chance to experience true nature and enjoy our PLANET. I think many times we take that for granted, and we don’t really enjoy all the beauty that the world brings to us. After 4 miles uphill, we finally got to the summit where we had a miniature picnic and enjoyed the most beautiful view ever. Spring has just begun so the trees are beginning to flower, animals are starting to come out, and there is just such an amazing rebirthing process happening. It felt so good to get away from all the chaos and just relax and take everything in. Not only was it amazing to be in this place but it was amazing to get to share such quality time with my family as well.
On the way down, we stopped by a river where we rested, dipped our feet in and even drank some of its water! Many native Indians believe that water is the complete substance for rebirth and connection with the earth, seeing as it makes up the majority of our planet, it comes from the sky and spreads through our rivers. And there I was taking water DIRECTLY from the earth, it was so refreshing and it truly gave me the energy to carry on with the final hike.
On Saturday, I went to my monthly “woman’s group” with my mom which is always amazing to go to. It really gives me a chance to get in contact with my feminine self and understand my own importance as a woman- which is great especially now that I am growing older and I have to understand my true value. We did massages, talked about our life, ate delicious food, and had our ceremony where we all prayed together. The women in the group are all unique and beautiful and every time I connect with them it gives me such an incredible support. As we all talked, and they discussed their own fears and worries it felt great to feel like I am not the only on going through a tough time and that we all have the same sorts of worries. It also feels great to feel their acceptance and embrace as I share my own story and open my heart up to them.
I think the growth I have reached at this point of my life has been incredible and I feel so in contact with myself and with the universe. I have begun to embrace myself and enjoy my own beauty because there is nothing else like it. That brings a lot of respect for myself, who I am, and more respect towards the world as a whole.
"With a long and slender body
And the sweetest softest hands
And we'll blow away forever soon
And go on to different lands
And please do not ever look for me
But with me you will stay
And you will hear yourself in song
Blowing by one day"
-Suzanne Vega
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