“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is
gratitude.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche
Driving away from my third and final camp in the California desert
last week, I felt luxurious waves of gratitude.
I had enjoyed precious time in the wilderness and solitude. I have the means to share
gratitude with anyone interested in looking, through photographic images. My spouse encourages me to do these things,
which in itself is no small blessing.
“I am 20 miles or more from the nearest fellow human, but
instead of loneliness I feel loveliness. Loveliness is a quiet exultation.” -
Edward Abbey
The details are also worthy of gratitutde; winter sunshine and the sounds
of coyotes hunting, unrushed time to contemplate, and the mundane blessings of nighttime
propane heat and shelter from the wind.
“And we see more if we go to those obscure places, the ones
with primitive roads and no facilities, because then we face this warp and woof
of time alone in silence and with only the bubbling of love and memories to
keep us company.” Charles
Bowden
When I stumble on quotes which resonate, I enshrine them in
my journal. Recently I noticed a thread
among them, about encountering gratitude and a muse in the quiet places. Though they may appeal most to the introverts
among us, they contain the footprints of universal truth.
“Art doesn’t happen unless you can rest enough to take the
time “ ~Christa Sadler
“I travel in wild country a great deal, often alone, and my
friends find this to be fatally eccentric, although they use the more polite
term “stupid.” They feel sorry for me because I miss the fun of camping in
groups, same sex or mixed. Perhaps I am too cranky to know any better. I go
afield to calm myself, to sort out the demonic squirrels in my head.” ~Ellen Meloy
Here’s to the cranky and to calming the Demonic Squirrels,
Ellen. Cheers.
As usual, there’s more on the website.
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