Today was a crisp, sunny fall day. The change of seasons was evident in the brisk breeze and the rustle of leaves underneath my feet.
As I walked in nature, I meditated on impermanence, something that’s been on my mind lately as I go through transitions in my life.
I have been walking regularly at Steinke Basin for fifteen years. Even this place that is written on my soul has undergone change.
Areas that used to be clear meadow are now filled with young trees and taller brush, providing a home for different species of birds, animals, and plant life.
An ancient wise Grandmother Willow who I greeted on every walk splintered and fell several years ago. I mourned her loss, and life in the woods continued.
Nothing stays the same forever in nature, not even seemingly immovable objects. After a summer and fall of walking at Steinke, every stone and tree root is in my muscle memory. I’m surprised every spring when the rocks jutting up from the hard dirt trail have shifted.
Nature reminds us of the inevitability of change. All living things eventually die. Much joy comes from the connections we make, but nothing lasts forever. Nature teaches us to love deeply and then graciously let go.
This work is real, and it matters.
October 16, 2021