On Being Outside

by Aloyce Riziki

It the voices of birds chirping joyfully,

The sound of trees swaying gracefully,

The flow of creeks burbling gently,

That makes me appreciate nature’s rhapsody.

It’s watching the squirrels moving cautiously,

Avoiding the bugs bugging endlessly,

Admiring the butterflies flying meticulously,

That reminds me to be alive and even more, mindfully.

It’s the sound of raindrops in the quiet forest,

The occasional touch of sunrays penetrating leaves,

The feeling of calm gentle wind across my skin,

That awakens my sense of gratitude and grace.

It’s the steepness and flatness of the hiking paths,

The roughness and gentleness of the soil structure,

The brown, dark grey and green colors of the flora,

That teaches me to find colors in the black & white lifestyle.

It’s the spectacular view after the hard climb,

The pause at the top allows for a reflection on the journey,

It makes me appreciate the ups and downs of the process,

Reminding me to embrace my own life’s hike.

Knowing the goal is as important as the process.

Go outside, be open to the outside, and learn from the Outside!