365 Lessons-Lesson 106: Commune with Nature

In nature's presence I am anonymous. I become part of the symphony of all that is. I blend in with what's around me and am one with it. A bumble bee, a fern, sparkles in the sand, the caw of a seagull, the smell of salt water from the Sound, my husband's face.

I went to Discovery Park today with my husband. The Pacific Northwest is gorgeous this time of year. Seattle is a city that lives in harmony with nature. I'm in awe of the trees right here where I live. They tower above me like guardians of the land. I dissolve in their presence.

We found a make shift fort and decided to take a rest on the logs there. I closed my eyes and could hear the sound of the waves, taste the salt in the air, smell the ocean, feel the sand caressing the spaces between my fingers. This sand seemed to hug my body in it's warmth.

After strolling on the beach for what seemed like hours, we headed off on one of the many trails through the trees. The first trail had a rain forest feeling. I felt like a monkey might swing down from a vine at any moment, but there are no monkeys in these parts.

There are harbor seals, however. The mothers leave their baby seals on the shore while they hunt for food. There's even a sign at the park warning visitors to leave nature alone, especially the baby seals.


We continued through the canopy of trees up endless stairs. It was quite a climb up from the shore.
We kept walking until we reached a dense forest full of cedar and pine. The trees towered over us.

And this is all right in Seattle. It's unbelievable to me. I can't wait to come back in July when all the berries are out. In this park, and all over Washington, we enjoy salmon berries, huckleberries, thimble berries and blackberries.

But I know we'll be back much sooner than that. After all, we don't have to go far to experience nature, it's all around us.