Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.
—Rachel Carson
I have to give it to her; nature indeed is inspiring enough to keep us sustained if we can understand what it intends to teach.
Long before the human race existed, nature was there. And it will last till the world breathes. Minimalism and nature go hand in hand. A little dose of minimalism and you will find ways to live to the fullest even with the bare minimum. Although nothing comes near to the beauty nature entails, there is a hidden grandeur in minimalist living that only a few privileged souls thrive on— souls that know how to admire the simplistic life muzzling the greed and jealousy inside.
But the journey of a minimalistic soul is often arrested by the bad influence of our friends and families. Therefore, a little inspiration is necessary every now and then to stay motivated. I cannot guarantee about others but I often feel threatened by the lavish lifestyle of others; perhaps I am not yet ready to entirely submit myself to minimalism. But a little walk in the woods, a bunch of wildflowers, or even an empty riverbank convinces me to stick to the minimalistic idea.
Photo by Jeffrey Betts on Unsplash
It’s winter here. Leaves are all yellow or yellowish and ready to drop off the branches. Seasonal flowers are ready to bloom, some are already bursting with colours but the majority in my garden are yet to bloom. For some reason I find solace looking at the sky above the garden— endless forms the most beautiful, indeed.
Less is more— to understand what this means, sometimes try to gaze upon the emptiness of a tranquil sea; the emptiness of azure blue will fill your heart with all the majesty it has.
Unfortunately, enjoying the companionship of the vast emptiness of an open sea does not happen every now and then. In fact, it’s been only a few times I have been on a beach— the sad part of living on plain land.
But my search for tranquillity and inspiration for living a simple life continues.
And I find it convenient to pay a visit to the nearest riverbank to reflect on my thoughts. The warmth of the sun cheers the soul living inside and the dancing yellow mustard blooms that we have planted recently send a captivating aroma down the nostrils— all pleasing my senses and replenishing my weakened spirits to remain contented with less. And I enjoy being there alone so nothing to distract me when I am all-receptive to nature’s healings.
However, fortune doesn’t favour every time I am up for a recharge. Sometimes I find it perplexing to enjoy the temporal banishment in the woods around our house. Not because they aren’t always empty but because the wound upsetting my mind sometimes is deep enough to refuse to heal. Perhaps it’s because visiting the same place has less effect on the mind.
So, I let it be.
Sometimes letting your mind enjoy whatever state it is in works better than trying to find a cure to its indifferences.