Nature presents to us constantly the reminder of our roots, our organic selves, our place in the natural and creative world. It also brings us back to what is real and sensible. In short, we are able to retrieve our commons sense and sanity in what is increasingly an insane society.
Today I’m bringing you some of my favorite quotes from American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher Henry David Thoreau:
“We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.”
“Take long walks in stormy weather or through deep snows in the fields and woods, if you would keep your spirits up. Deal with brute nature. Be cold and hungry and weary.”
“I have a room all to myself; it is nature.”
“He who hears the rippling of rivers in these degenerate days will not utterly despair.”
“Every blade in the field – Every leaf in the forest – lays down its life in its season as beautifully as it was taken up.”
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
“Wildness is the preservation of the World.”
How would you like the future of our children and grandchildren to look? A world dominated by computers, machines, and robots, or one where we are connected to the heart of Nature? The question is important, because we need to make intentional choices for our future now.
Have a beautiful weekend. I hope you enjoy at least a little part of Nature to feed your soul. We all need that sort of nourishment and healing right now.
Susan L Hart 2023 / HartInspirations.com
It’s important to believe in yourself, but let’s face it, we all need some help with that from time to time. What would you do without the people who are in your corner, cheering you on? They are your champions, and here’s why they are so important:
Every day and all around you, there are people expressing their opinion about how you “should be”. It can be extremely crippling when you buy into it, because so often these unsolicited gems of wisdom are negative. These people are not secure in themselves, consequently their chief aim is to demoralize, demotivate, and drain you. They are called “energy vampires”, and this is how they achieve some or all of their personal power. They do not want to see you succeed, because they believe that would somehow diminish them.
Your champions, on the other hand, aren’t trying to mold you into their idea of success. Rather, they see your talents and strengths and encourage you to follow your own unique path. They offer to share their knowledge and mentor you, where it is appropriate. They truly care about your success!
So believe in your dream, intend to succeed, and work at it passionately. You will find your true champions gathering around you. Hold them close, treasure them, express gratitude to them often. Your champions are pure gold.
Susan L Hart 2023 / HartInspirations.com
“Following my bliss” has meant different things at various times in my life. How about you? Certainly selling pretty much everything I owned at mid-life, leaving the circle, and heading out into the world with my partner was both scary and illuminating.
Could I call that “bliss”? Yes, I would say that now, because up until that time I had defined myself in certain ways that had become claustrophobic and limiting. I discovered that I loved to write, and here I am now and speaking to you. More doors are opening all the time, and that’s a truly beautiful thing.
Is there something you’ve been yearning to do, but haven’t quite taken the leap yet? I urge you to take at least one baby step forward. You will be amazed at how the universe will conspire to help you!
Susan L Hart 2023 / HartInspirations.com
Why are we so drawn to the idea of a super hero? Heroes dominate some of our greatest stories of transformation. I would say that the ones wearing flashy uniforms are a bit dangerous, as they represent saviors who will rescue humanity. The cinemas and video games are consumed with this idea.
Hey, Spider-Man, I have the real news for you. We’re not weak, we’re capable of saving ourselves…
The Lord of the Rings primary hero, dear humble Frodo Baggins, is just an ordinary guy answering an inner call. And therein lies the true power of those stories. Do we not all have a hero inside of us? We rise to the occasion in small and big ways, and it all counts!
You are the hero of both your own story, and the world’s story.
More on the hero’s journey here: Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey”
Susan L Hart 2023 / HartInspirations.com
Susan L Hart / Author 