Gratitude comes in many forms. At times, it's that warm feeling that wraps around you like a hug. In these moments, it washes over you gently, and without warning. A sense of contentment, spirituality, love and affection, and being in the moment all come to mind. We find this state comes easily when surrounded by Nature.
No doubt the company, the setting, and an incredible sunset, inspired the gratitude we felt one particular evening in California's wine country.
Recently, I shared our experience of waking each morning to a flurry of activity with hummingbirds darting to and fro. Nature, in its infinite wisdom, gifted us with the gentle chirps of crickets to end the day. Once again, the sounds of the environment added to the magic and mystique.
There's no denying the sound tracks of nature are meditative.
Researchers say they have pinpointed the reason why sounds from nature have such a profund restorative effect on our psyche. A study at Brighten and Sussex Medical School in England, found the sounds physically alter our brain connections - reducing the fight-or-flight instinct.
At our home in rural Camas, we are fortunate to hear a variety of natural sounds on a daily basis. The wind blowing through tree branches, birds singing, frogs croaking, rain falling, and during the fall and winter months, the babble of a nearby river, all add to the soothing ambience of our rural lifestyle.
Thanks to Debbie Reynolds for this November Challenge. We are both looking forward to reading posts filled with gratitude as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday. Tis the season, but there is always a reason for gratitude.
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