Under a Tree

"If you feel peaceful within, you begin to attract more of the peace you desire. Why? Because you're functioning from a spiritual place of peace." ~Wayne Dyer

I am spending a lot of time these days running, thinking about running, planning when I'm going to run. Sunday after my run, I enjoyed sitting under a tree and doing nothing.

There is a lot to be said for just sitting under a tree and not thinking. Just being. My daughter and I spent a great deal of Sunday afternoon sitting under this tree on a big blanket in the middle of a field. We were surrounded by lots of green grass, millions of tiny yellow flowers, 3 sweet horses, and lots of fresh air. We had our sketch pads, and I brought my journal along. We sat and talked and drew and wrote. We just sat at times and breathed together. It was a sacred, slow time and I treasured every moment of it. I want to build more of these moments into my life. Moments where I am outside, savoring time with my child, not doing anything, just being... under a tree.

Quiet

"There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it." ~Minnie Aumonier

After huge thunderstorms and 20 tornadoes touched down in our area, we have been without power for a week now. While it is a bit inconvenient in that we don't have food in the refrigerator, I can't wash clothes in the washing machine, and my bangs look a little crazy, I have actually really enjoyed the lack of the modern convenience of electricity. My house is incredibly QUIET. I don't think about the constant hum of the many electrical devices we have plugged in all the time, but without them, the quiet is so soothing. Quiet has a presence, a sound of its own, a peacefulness to it. I love the quiet.

Without electricity, we have filled our home with candlelight and sat outside playing games or eating or talking. We have worked in the garden and played with our dog. I like the natural rhythm of going to sleep after reading for a bit by booklight and waking with the birds and not an alarm clock. No power means no television and no computer so we've drawn and written and played and spent wonderful time outside instead.

The power folks are working 'round the clock to restore the electricity to my city, but I will really be just fine if they take a little longer to reach my own home.

May!

"I thank you, God, for this amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky, and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." ~ e.e.cummings

It's May, and my marathon is less than 3 weeks away :) I'm excited about it. I have, for the most part, really enjoyed training and running this winter and spring. The woods are so green now. We have had a very busy spring, and I have not gotten to run in the woods as much as I would have liked. When I have gotten to spend time on my favorite trails, it has been a homecoming. I find that my time amidst the trees refreshes me and rejuvenates me like nothing else. I need that time to "fill my well," and then I'm able to carry that feeling with me as I go about my days.