Today, I drove through one of the most beautiful landscapes I've seen in a long time. It was a quiet town, built around mountains and hills, and I had to reduce my speed for a moment or two to fully take in all of the natural gifts around me. It's so nice to observe all the natural works of art that nature has made on its own.
Trees stood tall with their bright green canopy high above us. The air was fresh, the area felt calm, and the whole area was so peaceful and relaxing, it seemed like a thousand miles away from the stimulation of urban life.
What I found very interesting was how the community was so well integrated with the landscape. The houses and roadways weren't in opposition to the natural landscape; they complemented the contours of the mountains and hills to take advantage of the area. It made me think profoundly about the saying that not all development is destruction; that we can coexist with nature.
The mountains were amazing. They almost served as a buffer from the outside world while providing a sense of enclosure for the whole area. The slopes were dressed in lush vegetation, and at the right time of the day, when the sun was hitting the tops of the peaks, it appeared as a painted landscape. I found myself in awe of the whole scene.
I couldn't simply live this moment without sharing this moment. I took my camera out to capture a little scenery to share with you. Often, we do not have to travel long distances to observe the beauty of nature. Some of the most beautiful landscapes are only minutes from our homes; we only have to learn to appreciate them.
Once again, I was reminded by this experience of the importance of keeping our natural landscapes intact. As we quickly walk through our natural landscapes, we fail to see them as more than pretty sights and not gifts to inspire us, re-energise us away from the chaos, and renew our reconnection to the earth. I am thankful for strolling through the community; it was a personal reminder of the beauty of Mother Nature surrounding all of us.
