“It is necessary … for a man to go away by himself … to sit on a rock … and ask, ‘Who am I, where have I been, and where am I going?” ~ Carl Sandburg
I always enjoy being part of Kat’s Photo-Heart Connection and visiting the other participants’ blogs. Haven’t done it before? You can learn more about how to find your Photo-Heart Connection here. Kat talks about “making a commitment to connect art with heart” and invites anyone and everyone to add photography or artwork to the monthly connections.
My family spent a few days in Dallas over the winter holidays, just something fun… a change of scenery. The above photo is from the Dallas Arboretum. I have been wanting to spend time there for a couple years now and so my sweet Mr. B made it happen. He dropped me off so I could wander around alone. It was enjoyable to be alone in the quiet after being in a noisy crowded hotel for a few days and with our daughter nonstop.
The Arboretum is acres and acres (66 to be precise) of paths to explore. I covered the entire thing in a couple hours and then went back to a few choice spots. This pond was one of them that I particularly enjoyed. By the time I got there though, I was exhausted.
I settled onto a big rock and let my body sink into itself. After starting out with a wide heart and sure steps, I’d somehow gotten into a mood where I didn’t want to encounter any other people and was bothered by their nearness and their voices. I let the sound of the water soothe my nerves as my eyes feasted on all the leaves, lily pads, and colorful fish in the pond. I couldn’t think of getting up and doing more walking, so I stayed there a very long time.
I started to feel lonely, as if I led a solitary life and had nobody and nothing special to return to. I just kept staring at this group of three leaves, telling myself that the feeling is temporary and to enjoy the solitude and quiet. Sometimes I feel way too deeply. I realize there’s some judgement in that sentence, but honestly, I didn’t want to feel those emotions just then.
Overall, it was a pleasurable few hours, walking in the winter sunshine, enjoying the delicate leaves and flowing ponds, and stopping for a cup of warm tea. I hope to return in the spring to enjoy some flowers.
“Are the days of winter sunshine just as sad for you, too? When it is misty, in the evenings, and I am out walking by myself, it seems to me that the rain is falling through my heart and causing it to crumble into ruins.”
― Gustave Flaubert
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