When I am there, the breeze gets me right away. As soon as I step out of the car, I sigh. The slow humming gentle breeze brings along the smells of the lake, intoxicating me instantly. All I want to do is run and embrace it all — the oak trees leaning on the wind, the fluttering butterfly wings, the sparkles on the lake’s surface, and the bright blue sky. I absorb the beauty of my surroundings and feel the heat from the sun, which swiftly transforms me to a state of bliss.

As I walk through the golden field of grass, my every step is focused on keeping the snakes away, yet they belong here too. I cherish each and every creature, even if I don’t want to meet them all. Except for my companion, I rarely see any of my own kind.

The rocks on the beach, I meander around, trying to find the best spot to take in the splendor around me. As I undress, I hear the silence. Even with the birds chirping and the waves gently embracing the shore with splashing echoes, it is the most silent of places. I am encompassed by mind numbing stillness where the perception of time gradually dissipates with each exhalation. When I finally lie down and close my eyes, I feel myself melting into a state of oneness with my environment. That is when I can almost hear the earth sighing, and sometimes I find myself joining her, in synchrony.