Foreword

I was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. There roamed wild elk and mule deer, black bears, gray wolves, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions. In the clear rivers, wild trout hovered motionlessly while large salmon charged the rushing currents in a battle to find their origin.

As a child, I loved being immersed in the remote solitude of this rugged terrain. There was camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and resting under the sweeping sky, soaking in the sun’s warmth by day, counting meteors that cut through the constellations by night. This was the place of my earliest recollections, the place where I fell in love with the wild. The woods and water are always present in each of my earliest memories.

As I grew older, my mind distanced itself from the outside world. Even though I lived in places full of natural beauty, I transitioned to a life indoors, moving into a brick house crammed in a large subdivision with concrete driveways and asphalt roads. I worked in storied buildings, exercised in crowded gyms, and enjoyed writing in bustling downtown coffee shops.

As my life out in nature faded into childhood memories, I sensed something deep inside of me was fading, too. I longed for the nostalgia of my past while feeling increasingly apprehensive about my adult life. My environment was consistently hectic, noisy; clinical. Society’s expectations yelled out from every direction, making me feel like I had to put on a mask or play a role to conform. When it was finally my turn to relax and be myself, I found the day had already robbed me of my time and energy.

Then, something unexpected happened. With only a few weeks’ notice, I found myself uprooted from my city life and set down gently on a large wooded plot on a red dirt road in a tiny rural town in North Carolina. After thirty years, I once again found myself surrounded by rich forests, old groves, fertile farmlands, pristine lakes, and wild reservoirs. It was as if someone had hit my life’s reset button, and it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

I’ve lived in North Carolina now for four years, and spending all my time in nature has led to important discoveries. Some helped me reclaim my past, while others shed light on parts of me I had never met. Woods & Water | Reflections On Nature is a blog series where I document my observations. This is a place where I can reflect on the personal experiences I’ve had while cultivating a closer relationship with nature.

Please accept my personal invitation to read along. I hope these pieces inspire you to get outside and see what all the fuss is about. I know not everyone can live close to nature, but we can all do a little more to rediscover the natural world; to rediscover ourselves.

Maybe you’ll go hiking, fishing, or plant a garden in spring. Perhaps you’ll hang a scenic photograph on your office wall or set your phone down, raise the blinds, and stare outside the window for a while. Or, maybe turn on some ambient music and see how the sounds of the forest or a good thunderstorm remind you of your ancient home, ushering in a sense of belonging you probably haven’t felt in years.