After having it on my booklist for decades, I finally slogged my way through Walden. Thoreau can be obtuse, but the gems buried in his prose are worth the effort. Like this…
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”
It’s an essential piece of wisdom that echoes through the centuries. Ancient Roman poet, Horace, exhorted us to carpe diem, “seize the day.” Thich Nhat Hahn says, “Life is available only in the present moment.” Wayne Dyer said, “Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were you last.” Baba Ram Dass simplified it in the popular phrase, “Be here now.”
The rub, of course, is learning to be mindful in our daily lives. This was central to Thoreau’s purpose when he built his small home on Walden Pond. The site wasn’t especially remote. Regional train tracks, the local village, even his mother’s house were all nearby. Still, the setting afforded him a chance to take his own advice, to immerse himself in the here and now.
Practicing mindfulness has skyrocketed in popularity. I celebrate this trend, but frankly, I find that most prescribed methods of meditation are exceedingly difficult for me. Sitting quietly for long periods is contrary to my high metabolism and learning style. A wise counselor helped me with some practical advice. He knew my love of exploring nature, so he said: “Make sure you schedule time to hike alone in the outdoors. It will be a portal to serenity for your soul.”
Being a Texas Master Naturalist has magnified my knowledge of flora, fauna, geology, weather, and hydrology. I am grateful to all the teachers who enrich my life with their expertise! Still, beyond the scientific data is that profound experience of the present that I find most alluring in nature. These experiences help me break the seal into deeper awareness.
Like a recent moment while hiking the Curry Creek Overlook Trail, part of the Bauer Unit at Guadalupe River State Park.
It was early morning as I started my hike. Except for one couple I greeted in the parking area, I didn’t encounter another soul. I reveled in the solitude. Plenty of birds were singing, and I used my phone to record a few so a Master Naturalist friend could help me identify them.
The Curry Creek Trail curves at its furthest reach, the oaks and junipers covered with green moss. Jutting rocks display lichen in a variety of colors.
I stopped and stood as still as I could, calming my breathing, tuning my awareness. Suddenly, out of the coolness came the distinct, rhythmic call of a Barred Owl (example here).
It was just me, the owl, the trees with a slight breeze in their branches, one of those moments when I felt my individual consciousness dissolve into my surroundings, no longer any distance between observer and object. Just oneness.
Where’s Walden? It appears when we break the seal of our preoccupations and enter into the beauty of the world around us. Sure, we can do this anywhere, anytime, but it sure helps to be surrounded by nature!
You can connect with Krin Van Tatenhove on Facebook here, Instagram here, or via his website here
