forest friends.
I’m an adventure enthusiast on my best day, but there’s something extra special about taking a forest walk right after Christmas. Maybe it’s the brisk winter air dancing around the trail or the well-traveled snow crunching under your hiking shoes. Perhaps you catch a brief ray of sunshine cutting through the treeline while the nesting residents provide their own unique soundtrack. Whatever it is, I’m telling you, it’s pure magic.
These days, there's no sign of social media slowing down, which means there isn’t a trail that goes undiscovered. But if you’re like me and find a path that paints the picture of unfiltered tranquility, you stay there as long as possible. Time feels like an illusion, your steps slow to a snail’s pace, and your heart settles into a restful rhythm. The fresh pine needles overwhelm your senses enough for you to realize that the scented ‘pine tree’ candle sitting on your coffee table is nothing compared to the real deal. You’re there, you’ve reached the moment to be perfectly present.
This past holiday season, I was lucky enough to settle into this oasis and spend an early afternoon with an unexpected tour guide. Like a traffic light, its red hair stopped me immediately. I’ve seen flickers and the odd Woody’s RV World advertisement in my travels, but I’ve never been so lucky to witness a pileated woodpecker up close and personal like this.
The woodpecker, unbothered by my presence, remained fixated on the task at hand, its beak rattling off against the weathered wood, pausing to listen for any signs of a fresh meal to be had. Oftentimes, when I’m deep in the woods and come across wildlife, specifically wildlife that has perfected the game of hide and seek, I like to do my own deep dive and seek any possible symbolism that could be related to the brief encounter. Upon my search on the good ole’ interweb, I learned that my newfound carpenter friend is commonly known to resemble perseverance, ongoing energy, and hard work.
You might differ with me regarding this next point, but not only do we have a lot to learn from this woodland creature, but we also have a significant amount in common with it as well. Think about it; at the end of every year, what do we spend most of our time doing? Reflecting. What key areas are we usually reflecting on? Where we’ve invested our energy, how we’ve persevered, and most importantly, how hard we’ve worked to get where we are. Maybe you’ve worked hard and fallen short of your goals by just a few weeks; maybe you persevered through troubling times and rediscovered just how strong you are; and maybe, you experienced a combination of both of those things, and your cup is overflowing with joy. So do I think it was ironic that I saw this woodpecker at the end of the year of all times? No. Am I reaching for a deeper meaning that may not be there? It’s possible. But what other way to enjoy nature than to CONNECT with it? There’s a reason why doctors, therapists, magazines, etc., source the outdoors as one of the top remedies for stress.
What I’m trying to get at is that there is more to experiencing nature than a brief walk to diffuse any conflict you may be experiencing. These moments are not meant to be fleeting. They’re meant to be impactful and encourage meditation or the art of being present. To be able to appreciate simple things and have the heavy things roll off our backs. We’re meant to celebrate our innate being, feel rejuvenated, and continue to persevere much like our friendly woodpecker. With that, I hope it motivates you to get outside. Go\ discover nature and explore whatever mini curiosities you may experience - you won’t regret it.
