Thorne Swift Nature Preserve

Where woods and water meet. Bringing together two vastly different ecosystems under the umbrella of the Thorne Swift Nature Preserve. I have been on the beaches of the East Coast from Maine to Florida and many of them are over developed, containing housing developments and shopping areas and overrun with way too many people. So it was nice to visit this quiet little park just north of Harbor Springs and walk the wooded trails leading to Lake Michigan. Despite it being high season, my husband and I were the only folks on the trails.

When you pull into the drive at Thorne Swift, you are greated by a sweet little nature center featuring exhibits of the local flora and fauna as well as books on nature with a cozy reading nook for which to peruse them. The friendly caretaker greets you upon arrival and answers any questions you may have and sets you on your way along well maintained trails. I loved the boardwalks that ushered us through the marshy areas of the park as well as the benches to sit and stop and be contemplative along the way. Interpretive signs help you identify the beauty around you and birdsong keeps you company.

The trail system is short but all the better for it leads the way quickly out to the beach via two loop options. Along the way there is a fantastic overlook that crosses over a undisturbed dune and a bit further along the trail you find a short staircase that brings you down to the pristine beach. All in all, a great getaway and worthwhile trip if getting away from it all is what you seek.

Link:

Thorne Swift Nature Preserve

Musical messages...

What is that song I don't understand? The slightest breeze will get the Quaking Aspens in my yard rustling and as the wind picks up, the other trees begin to play as well, becoming a symphony as many trees chime in. The stately pines remain silent on most days, the breeze too faint to catch their thin leaves. But on other days, when a louder, more fast paced song is being played, their whirring sounds add a special kind of melody.

When I first moved back up north after being away for many years, it was the trees that sang me home, their song matching the music they played from my childhood. It was a song known deep within my body, bringing me back to a place where my life was fresh and full of possibilities. Those possibilities over the years became twisted into cultural and other's expectations, and I went in a few directions that did not feed the girl who sat on the dock of her Grandmother's cottage dreaming all those years ago. I can barely remember the dreams I had then but I do feel they are locked in the song the trees in my yard play. Singing me back into the wisdom of my youthful soul.

Just like the trees have a language I can't fully comprehend upon casual listening, I have an early childhood language that is hard to access as an adult, yet written inside me and containing keys to my authentic wisdom and life directions. This wisdom is still there as I can feel it aching to come to the surface once again, encouraging me to do the work to bring it forth. Hopefully, over time, as I spend time sitting in my yard listening to the trees, their melody will rekindle in me the language of my early self.

Being Alone

I am starting to see that deep connection with ones source comes from being alone. Preferably somewhere ensconced in the natural world. Moving to northern Michigan has provided me with the opportunity to move toward more solitude, more aloneness which upon first inspection has sometimes felt like loneliness. A feeling of wishing I had my old life in Philadelphia back where I was constantly in the company of others.

But being with others all the time in Philly had started to feel like too much socializing and not enough contemplation. Not enough time for myself to think deeply about life and what my soul cared for. I had deep friendships but also way too many acquaintances that kept me distracted. It seemed I was trying to keep too many social obligation balls in the air.

Moving to Michigan felt like an opportunity to take a break from the busyness of socializing. To really get back to the basics of learning to be with myself. It is surprising then that I have felt a feeling of unease, desiring to have friends in my midst again. From Sara Maitland's book, "How to be Alone," I have come to understand that while solitude is important, one should also have some friendships in order to create a balance and not veer too far into the loneliness realm. I can see from Sara's book that I need to acquire some local relationships while moving toward solitude in order to stave off loneliness. To keep a feeling of sadness that comes when one feels they have no friends at bay. But as I say this I wonder, am I feeling a different feeling than loneliness when choosing to have more solitude in my life?

I have felt loneliness before and it feels more like desperation. Like wanting to meet someone, anyone, no matter who they are. Usually this feeling is followed up by a quick unfulfilling friendship with someone you have nothing in common with. The unease I feel due to this move does not feel like desperation and feels rather like being uncomfortable. As I move more toward solitude, I believe uncomfortable emotions are arising as I transition from one way of being into another, into a new plane of consciousness. I find myself pushing into a new way of being. Of needing myself more than others. Of walking away from having too many relationships which bring busyness and distraction into my life, keeping me apart from the deep satisfaction of having time for myself.

I think it is hard to step away from busyness and distraction because our culture supports those who have lots of friends and our worth can be built on how busy we are. This busyness brings on a feeling of self importance which feels vital to our being. So we stay active and fear going to a place of quiet and aloneness. That is what I am feeling with this move. A fear of moving away from being busy. Of no longer feeling validated and important enough. Not a feeling of loneliness.

So I must push through and eliminate needing to be busy and social all the time and reap the benefits of being alone. Seeking solitude. Hearing my own voice. Having time to pursue my passions in order to be fulfilled in a new kind of way. To ignore the uncomfortableness of not being busy and focus instead on where my heart is leading me. To work toward being alone, while being careful to add a few quality friendships to the mix.