In the Midst of Silence

Summary

The website content reflects on the profound connection between humans and nature, emphasizing the importance of reconnecting with forests for mental well-being and inspiration.

Abstract

The article "In the Midst of Silence" delves into the mystical allure of forests, presenting them as sanctuaries of peace and inspiration amidst the cacophony of city life. The author shares a personal narrative of growing up close to forests, which served as a source of wonder and creativity. As the author moved to a bustling city, the lack of contact with nature led to increased anxiety and a loss of inner peace. The essay argues that modern society's emphasis on productivity and technology often overshadows the need for contemplation and connection with our ancestral environments. The author advocates for the importance of spending time in nature, not just for thinkers and philosophers, but for everyone, as it restores a sense of self and ancestral heritage that is crucial for human well-being.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep love for the forest, valuing its ability to provide peace and inspiration.
There is a strong belief that regular visits to the forest can counteract the anxiety and worry associated with fast-paced urban living.
The essay suggests that society's focus on modernization and productivity undervalues the contemplative act, which is seen as essential for personal growth.
The author posits that forests hold a special place in human heritage, being the primal home of our ancestors, and thus, a source of deep connection.
It is emphasized that everyone, not just philosophers or thinkers, should engage in the act of contemplation in nature to enhance their lives.
The author concludes that rekindling the relationship with nature repairs a lost link to our ancestry and contributes significantly to our humanity.

The mystical is to be found in the stillness of the moment

I love walking into the forest. It has an enchanting quality. It is mysterious yet so familiar. I can easily find peace within myself because of the lack of noise that is ever-present in the city. I am always struck by the wonderful and intricate scenery that is found right in front of my eyes. I can sense what always escapes my field of experience, all the little sounds that are always around me. How a simple breeze makes the branches of a tree dance, how my legs create a melody with every step that I make, the birds throwing a concert of spontaneous beauty.

The call of nature

I was fortunate enough to be born in a city that was very close to a lot of different forests. I could easily go into a forest, whenever I wanted to. Even as a kid I was fascinated with the exploration of that green world. I would go for hours with my friends on walks, we would tell stories to each other, make campfires. It was amazing.

Every once in a while if I wouldn’t go, I would feel an intense urge to do it. A calling. That would get louder with every day that has passed.

Something that is magical and happened within the forest is the fact that I would be blasted with inspiration. A flow of ideas would form within my mind, which would help me to grow as a person.

A place of anxiety

I moved to a bigger city. Over the years I would go less and less to the forest and I could feel a feeling of worry that would become anxiety starting to hunt me.

A bigger city is always filled, people have to get somewhere, have to solve something, they are in a rush. A rush towards what exactly, I don’t know, but they have to get there.

This kind of mentality influenced me too, and after a while, my inner peace started to dissolve, and I couldn’t really focus on my present. The constant noise of the city overwhelmed me, seeing people that walk pushing each other, getting angry when they have to wait even a little bit started to shape the way I lived too. I would feel that I was being lazy when I tried to appreciate a little shy flower that tried its best to grow on the edges of the street. I should’ve just walked, focus on what I had to do in life, to be serious.

Something was not right. It became increasingly clear that becoming a walking cold robot, untouched by the beauty that was lingering all around me, was a mistake.

A reunion with our ancestral heritage

The forests were the home of our ancestors. They were our primal home. That’s why we feel such a deep connection with it. But in our world right now trumps the idea of modernization, productivity, and improving our technologies.

You have to be productive, to work almost all the days you can. You can enjoy moments of peace, once or twice a month in a vacation, but that’s pretty much the extent of it.

The contemplative act has become a heresy nowadays as it does not bring the value it is expected in society. It is something that is done by the thinkers, the true philosophers not by the simple man.

That’s not true, not even a single bit.

You should listen to the sound of your steps, watch a sunset, listen to the sound of rain, go back into the forest.

Visiting forests, enjoying a walk without any reason, other than simply being there, is a wonderful thing to do. It adds to your life more than any rushing to your work will ever will.

I started to go once again into the forests, as often as I can. I walk and I breathe, I let myself slide into amazement, into experiencing the magnificent play of colors and sounds that nature created. I feel a lost link has been repaired, a connection with my ancestry, with the wonder that made us the humans we are today.