Living Curiously

As I wander around the town and look at the White Mountain ranges peeking out into the skyline in the distance, I feel this curious nature creep in. It\’s almost like, in these moments of exploration, I become a child again. I wonder how magical it must be to visit the tops of the highest peaks that still have visible signs of snow.

Then I wonder what the animals think about all that privacy up there in the wild. I am curious about how much of nature resides in the White Mountains, New Hampshire, that we haven\’t seen yet, for they have grown accustomed to hiding in plain sight.

The wonders of it all just transport me to this magical space of childlike wonder and curiosity.

I could sit here staring out into the rivers and mountain ranges, wondering how the ecosystem up there works. How do the fish survive, and the other wildlife survive in the rivers, mountains, and meadows? What is it that makes some moose appear at 3 pm, while others wait until closer to darkness?

What is it with deer that cross the street quickly, but wait in the distance for their partners to cross? They have this friendship and guidance, the natural wildlife out there in the world.

Even Canadian geese are in pairs, with one watching out for danger while the other consumes their food. I noticed recently that Canadian geese will twirl their necks like a snake does when it\’s about to snap at you, and then the goose will hiss. I had no idea Canadian geese knew how to hiss.

I was impressed.

That said, watching natural life with curiosity has allowed me to start to bear witness to the habits of the creatures who often come around the same areas. At the same time. The same place. The same routines.

They don\’t seem to grow tired of it, or have a desire for more, they are simply content living this life that they have, and doing what they do day in and day out.

This is quite the opposite of us human beings. We are raised to want more, and trained to believe we need more when in fact, we don\’t really need all that much.

We need about as much as the animals do:

Food. Shelter. Hydration. Friendship. Family.

This seems to be all these beautiful wild creatures need and want in this lifetime. The simple fact that they do not run from when I watch them in their natural habitat warms my heart and leaves me with a sense of peace and gratitude for the moments.

I am so grateful for the experiences I\’m having up in the White Mountains. Something shifted within me up here, and it seems only those who have made the change to live in such a wild space so deeply connected to God still know what it is that I am speaking of.

If you are used to living here, or have lived here your entire life, I recommend you take a day out to explore your area, sit and look at the natural world around you, forget the bills and high property taxes for just an hour – they will be there when you return, I promise – and just sit to be one with this magical space that you live in.

The White Mountains in New Hampshire what a magical place. I am truly blessed for all of the experiences I have had thus far, and if I must return to my home town some day, or some other space, I will know that the shifts that happened here … reconnecting me with the natural world, are going to be a major core memory point for my soul.