“Not all those who wander are lost” ~J. R. R. Tolkien

“I didn’t tell my heart to beat; I didn’t tell my eyes to see.” ~Ron Kauk, Yosemite rockclimber I listened to, on the wonder of all nature, including the wonder he has of himself.

More from that rockclimber, paraphrased (poorly):

I think of rockclimbing like yoga, or a martial art. I’m trying to relax and even out my breaths, to be more fluid and graceful. Sometimes I just admire the rock before I climb it–each one is like a work of art. It’s not about being competitive, or how fast I get to the top. It’s about perfecting each move, about finding a better way to get to the rock through the woods; it’s about the process, about being logical, having “common sense”, and learning to survive and protect yourself.

We are related to everything. We all need the same things: air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat.

The days are shorter in the winter; maybe it’s nature’s way of telling us to slow down and take it easier for a while.