By Susan and Biff Andrews

As is our custom, we share a poem with you for this time of Thanksgiving:

Gratitude

I feel the peaceful stillness where nature yawns

And grasps the day anew,

Bringing to full crescendo the sweet peace of night.

I set about my day with hope renewed,

Full well knowing there will be a tomorrow,

And if it is not so, of what does it matter?

My time is now to commune and be one with nature.

— Joyce M. Reed, “Gelhaus”

Being able to feel the peace and renewed hope that nature brings is what sends us out on our daily treks to commune with nature, our sanctuary.

In each season of the year there is something new each day that challenges our curiosity, uplifts our spirits and inspires us with sublime beauty and a deep sense of gratitude.

It might be an out-of-season encounter with a lizard napping on a leaf in the November sun, or a rare glimpse of a white ibis along the banks of the Dismal Swamp (ibis aren’t rare in our area but one rarely sees them in the swamp). A seasonal skein of Canada geese flying over a lake at sunset always gets our attention.

We just enjoy the sensory experience — the smell of the air, the sound of gurgling water, the wind blowing through the trees, the chirping birds, feeling the warmth of the sun on our faces through the canopy while watching for birds as the leaves rain down.

Before the big feast this week, have a little feast for the senses, a little single-serve slice of peace and renewal. Go outside and breathe deeply the fresh air and observe the natural world.

Find a place to sit. Be very still. Take a few deep breaths and clear out all the clutter and chatter that’s in your mind, and then — just listen and breathe for the next five minutes. You can do it in your own backyard, while you are waiting for the turkey to cook and the family to arrive.

The rest of your day will be all the better for it.

Susan and Bradford “Biff” Andrews are retired teachers and master naturalists who have been outdoor people all their lives, exploring and enjoying the woods, swamps, rivers and beaches throughout the region for many years. Email them at b.andrews22@live.com.