It would be hard to understate the simple pleasure of a weekend in the woods. I’ve journeyed to six continents, yet one of my greatest sources of serenity is a rustic cabin in the Northeast corner of New Hampshire, just a four hour drive from my home in Medford.
Amidst 27,000 acres of great Northern woodland, my husband Chris and I spent President's Weekend snowshoeing through three foot drifts, talking about our futures, and making chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes. We didn’t have a toilet, but we had chocolat chaud hand-carried back from Paris!
One of this cabin’s great powers is its ability reignite the magic of books. Take away electricity and cellphone service, and the daily toggle of 21st century life slows. As my attention span quadruples, books that could not interest me more than five minutes at home become instantly riveting. It makes me wonder, what beauty am I missing at my normal speed?
One of my goals this year is to bring more stillness into my daily life (if you have any tips, please share!). At the same time, balance works on different time scales. Cutting the cord for three days can be a gift that keeps giving for three months. Background chatter gives way to newfound space for fresh energy, ideas and beauty.
