Article written by Leah
Winter is here in all of its freezing pearlescent glory, and with it comes the opportunity to experience the natural sound of Nature, and all of its beauty. Sure, the leaves have changed to yellow, red and brown, crinkled up, dried up and fallen off the trees, and a blanket of white has descended upon the forests, but there is still an intense feeling of belonging that I’d trade for nothing else. With the blankets of snow comes a sense of purity that in today’s modern world is becoming harder and harder to find. And in the winter world of the forest where no other human soul is at that time brings along the silent sound of Nature that few ever hear in their entire lives.
Winter is here in all of its freezing pearlescent glory, and with it comes the opportunity to experience the natural sound of Nature, and all of its beauty. Sure, the leaves have changed to yellow, red and brown, crinkled up, dried up and fallen off the trees, and a blanket of white has descended upon the forests, but there is still an intense feeling of belonging that I’d trade for nothing else. With the blankets of snow comes a sense of purity that in today’s modern world is becoming harder and harder to find. And in the winter world of the forest where no other human soul is at that time brings along the silent sound of Nature that few ever hear in their entire lives.
While most people are locked up in their homes, with the furnace working overtime or a fire blazing in the wood stove, you can find me exploring the wild wood, because that’s where I feel a sense of calm, and beauty, and purity, and belonging. Most people refuse to travel and explore throughout the winter season, but not me and my husband Brandon, because the winter time is the only period of time where we can be alone in the forest and almost never hear another person, car, plane, or anything at all.
There’s a sincere peace that is available at this time of the year, unlike any other, and in that peace we’ve found respite from the modern hustle and bustle, and have found that our anxieties and stresses melt away out there. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of place, lonely, lost, or simply like you’re spinning your wheels in life, why not get out of your normal everyday routine and explore the wilder areas around you. Sure, it’ll be cold, but even if you only visit for a little while, that time spent in Nature will soothe you, and will stick with you for a good while. But it’s important to approach this time with the best intentions…
Dress well and strap on your winter boots, and be sure to bring a little bit of food and any tools you think you might need like a compass or knife, just in case. It’s okay to carry your phone on you, but keep it on silent mode with no buzzing, because the smart phone is one of the biggest culprits of our peace of mind and is an instigator for anxiety and tends to suck the spirit out of the moments that are meant to stick with us as we live our days.
Then simply head out to a wild area that will be absent of people, and simply wander, but do keep your head about you so you don’t become lost. Wander and simply breath deep the fresh air and take in long searching looks, over everything around you. Meditate and breath, and study every detail, and listen to every faint gust of wind, and touch the rugged bark of the trees, because this sensory information is important to really feeling the place you’re in, and with a break from technology, you can regain your stamina, and your peace of mind.
There’s a sincere peace that is available at this time of the year, unlike any other, and in that peace we’ve found respite from the modern hustle and bustle, and have found that our anxieties and stresses melt away out there. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or out of place, lonely, lost, or simply like you’re spinning your wheels in life, why not get out of your normal everyday routine and explore the wilder areas around you. Sure, it’ll be cold, but even if you only visit for a little while, that time spent in Nature will soothe you, and will stick with you for a good while. But it’s important to approach this time with the best intentions…
Dress well and strap on your winter boots, and be sure to bring a little bit of food and any tools you think you might need like a compass or knife, just in case. It’s okay to carry your phone on you, but keep it on silent mode with no buzzing, because the smart phone is one of the biggest culprits of our peace of mind and is an instigator for anxiety and tends to suck the spirit out of the moments that are meant to stick with us as we live our days.
Then simply head out to a wild area that will be absent of people, and simply wander, but do keep your head about you so you don’t become lost. Wander and simply breath deep the fresh air and take in long searching looks, over everything around you. Meditate and breath, and study every detail, and listen to every faint gust of wind, and touch the rugged bark of the trees, because this sensory information is important to really feeling the place you’re in, and with a break from technology, you can regain your stamina, and your peace of mind.
I know that when my hormones are fogging the clarity of my thoughts, and my anxiety is feeling overwhelming as it works its way into my day, poisoning my mood and my overall happiness, that it’s time for me to get away. I will strap on my Durand Polar boots by KEEN Footwear and a jacket, and I will disappear for a little while. I have a passion for searching for the sound of the natural world, so I will stand still, surrounded by the trees, and the snow, and I will breathe in softly, and just listen. It’s a beautiful practice that heals me. And I think it’s something powerful that everyone can benefit from.
I feature KEEN’s Durand Polar Waterproof Boots, because they helped make this feature possible. They provided a pair of their women’s boots for me to test and explore with, to both bring you this testimony to personal healing in Nature during the notoriously stressful holidays, as well as to offer you my thoughts on the quality of their footwear. Because when you venture out into undeveloped natural areas like a forest, it’s easy to run across terrain that may cause you to trip and strain something, or slip and fall into a hole or off a rock, but with KEEN I am confident in my ability to explore safely.
The women’s Durand Polar boots are built to handle tough winter terrain, while also providing you with optimal grip and a snug fit that will keep the elements off your feet and ankles, while keeping you grounded and in control. They feature a thermal footbed that keeps my feet toasty, an ice-grip sole that keeps me on my feet, and a faux-fur collar that seals in the heat while keeping me classy and fashionable looking; which makes these boots great for simple trips through the snow to simply make it to the store or wherever I need to go. If you would like to learn more about KEEN Footwear, click here.
I feature KEEN’s Durand Polar Waterproof Boots, because they helped make this feature possible. They provided a pair of their women’s boots for me to test and explore with, to both bring you this testimony to personal healing in Nature during the notoriously stressful holidays, as well as to offer you my thoughts on the quality of their footwear. Because when you venture out into undeveloped natural areas like a forest, it’s easy to run across terrain that may cause you to trip and strain something, or slip and fall into a hole or off a rock, but with KEEN I am confident in my ability to explore safely.
The women’s Durand Polar boots are built to handle tough winter terrain, while also providing you with optimal grip and a snug fit that will keep the elements off your feet and ankles, while keeping you grounded and in control. They feature a thermal footbed that keeps my feet toasty, an ice-grip sole that keeps me on my feet, and a faux-fur collar that seals in the heat while keeping me classy and fashionable looking; which makes these boots great for simple trips through the snow to simply make it to the store or wherever I need to go. If you would like to learn more about KEEN Footwear, click here.
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