Sunrises and the Healing Power of Nature
A Coyote barking at us, and much, much, more...
I love to be at Cedar Bluffs to watch the sunrise.
Sunrise is defined as the instant in the morning under ideal meteorological conditions, with standard refraction of the Sun's rays, when the upper edge of the Sun's disk is coincident with an ideal horizon.
I also enjoy the morning twilight, or dawn.
This is the overarching term for the period before sunrise when the sun is below the horizon but its light is still visible.
As I write this paragraph (yesterday), I’m at Drake University at the 2025 Iowa Environmental Council Annual Conference, listening to the keynote presentation by Florence Williams, author of “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Healthier, Happier, and More Creative.”
Florence gave a wonderful presentation on the health benefits of being outdoors if only for a few minutes every day. She shared that being in nature, and in awe of the vast forces outside of ourselves, makes us less upset about what might be happening in our lives, and where we find wonder we find joy. Or something like that. Jan at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines was there selling books, and should you want to purchase the book, I encourage you to order it from her or your own local bookstore.
As she signed the two books I bought for friends, I told her I am the volunteer park steward at Cedar Bluffs and I walk there every morning with Violet the Dog, and I feel every day the healing powers of nature, and she was so pleased! As I relive the moment, I can swear I heard her gasp at the joy of it all.
Her main call to action?
GO OUTSIDE AND TAKE KIDS WITH YOU!
I’ve seen lots of coyotes over the years, but have never had one bark at me like this before.
My wife Annie makes a salve out of Jewelweed and plantain, and it makes the sting and itch of bug bites go away quickly.
Notice the insect in flight upper left.
I couldn’t sleep a couple of nights, so went out early. These spiders, on different nights, gave me a warm welcome.
In my mind, I see a beautiful woman with a flower shawl gracefully reaching out for a gentleman caller to take her hand.
Hello, friend.
The sunrise peeks through the timber at me.
Can you see insects? I can.
How many insects do you see?
These four soldiers stood guard, cuddling during a cool dawn.
Here are four of my favorite nature Substacks: My friend Larry Stone’s “Listening to the Land,” Diane Porter’s My Gaia, Al Batt’s Al’s Substack, and Jaron’s Curious Adventures. Please consider subscribing. All four will entertain, educate, and soothe your soul.
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Lovely. And a great call to action - "GO OUTSIDE AND TAKE KIDS WITH YOU!"
And support those environmental education organizations in your state who support educators and facilitate these experiences for kids, including those kids who may not have easy access to nature.
In Iowa, that's the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition - https://iowaee.org/
In Kansas, that's the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education - https://www.kacee.org/
In Missouri, that's the Missouri Environmental Education Association - https://meea.org/
In Nebraska, that's the Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environmental Education - https://www.nacee.org/
I listened to the video a couple of times. I think the coyote was begging for a cup of coffee -- LOL😉.
Seriously -- Great pics of the sunrise and all the beauty around us.
Your photography is great therapy given all the chaos going around!