the sense of wonder
Today is the birthday of Rachel Carson (1907 - 1964), author of Silent Spring, the groundbreaking book that virtually started the environmental movement back in the 60’s. Today in Literature honors Carson today. The following is an excerpt from her The Sense of Wonder, taken from the TiL website:
We lay and looked up at the sky and the millions of stars that blazed in darkness. The night was so still that we could hear the buoy on the ledges out beyond the mouth of the bay. Once or twice a word spoken by someone on the far shore was carried across the clear air. A few lights burned in the cottages. Otherwise, there was no reminder of other human life….
It occurred to me that if this were a sight that could be seen only once in a century or even once in a human generation, this little headland would be thronged with spectators. But it can be seen many scores of nights in any year, and so the lights burned in the cottages and the inhabitants probably gave not a thought to the beauty overhead; and because they could see it almost any night perhaps they will never see it.
Beautiful. Take the time and attention to appreciate those wonders that are always readily available to you. While out dog walking yesterday, I had a memorable few minutes stopping to be with a tree and those moments really made my weekend.