One with Nature

by Maria
(Novi, Mi USA)

A few years ago, I was visiting one of my favorite local parks. It was late summer. I had been taking a long walk, and sat down for awhile to rest on one of the park benches in a secluded spot. It was early evening, that magical time between dusk and darkness when everything seems to stand still and yet there is that feeling of expectation, like something is about to happen. I was just sitting there relaxing, listening to the crickets humming and enjoying the warm balmy breeze. It turned into a kind of meditation and all of a sudden, I just felt like I was completely connected to everything around me. Everything seemed totally alive, and I had a sense of oneness with my surroundings, like I was reverberating with the trees and the crickets and all the creatures in the forest. It is hard to describe and to put into words. There was also an intense feeling of peace and serenity, much needed because at the time, I was going through a difficult period in my life. The feeling lasted for quite some time and I had to almost tear myself away from the bench because the park was closing and I had to leave. I just wanted to stay in that beautiful feeling. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.