Solitude and Peace -Elise Gunteski #8

 As someone who grew up with older brothers, solitude is a precious commodity. I most often find this feeling when I am in the woods. At my old house we owned 12 acres and I could wander into the land next to us. One of the places I felt most at peace was a tall tree at the edge of a blueberry thicket. It was the perfect size for climbing and would sway in the breeze. I would climb to the very top at sunset. It smelt different from other trees; sweeter and crisp. I would sit and sway with my eyes closed until the stars appeared and the frogs grew loud. The rays on sun hit it perfectly, but the velvet leaves shielded me from any boaters who may be passing by. It felt like all the fears and problems pulling on me ceased. I felt both heavy and incredibly light. The weight was pulling me into the tree, as if I was supposed to be only there forever. At the same time I felt almost out of my body. I was aware of everything, but noticing little. The peace felt connected. Connected to the tree, to the deer walking beneath, to the hawk soaring overhead. This peace was a strange feeling of existing within. I could never reach this peace intentionally. It would happen gradually; slowly sinking into an aware existence. 

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