Learning to be Happy: Refresh your soul

Fresh air Therapy
Nothing can beat it (except maybe cheesecake)

For memorial day, I went to visit my parents who live on the edge of Shawnee National Forest in Illinois.  We enjoy hiking multiple trails there but our favorite has become Fern Clyffe, a little box canyon with a waterfall, lookout points, and some pretty easy trails. 

When I feel my life falling apart, I tend to treat myself to some fresh air therapy.  

I think it's healthy to put yourself in a place where you can be overwhelmed with the superiority of nature and its impact on human beings and our impact on it.  

It provides us a peaceful secluded atmosphere to reflect inward and notice simple truths.

Now, I've titled this post as "Refresh your Soul" because of the simple truths that are found in nature have a way of pushing out the synthetic in my life and mind.  Center yourself and your goals where man-made ideals can't reach you and come back to reality with a better grounding to the foundations of your soul (Woah! That's some hippie talk I just dropped right there!)

(^ dats my  mother, ain't she the cutest)

Okay, OKAY

  But from a down to earth perspective-- these "learning to be happy" segments are about me.  I'm so self-centered! And honestly, that's true right now.  I've spent too much of my life rating my happiness on the reflection of myself in another's eyes.

I think that people should go outside more often (as I write curled up on the couch in my apartment).  We don't have to connect with other humans to feel connected to the world or to find our value.  Sometimes our value needs to be measured by ourselves.  

GO OUTSIDE! 

Go find a quiet place and find comfort in the silence.  Do it alone.  It's nice to share good things with other people but it's also nice to experience by yourself- treat yo'self! Let some things sacred.  As you  evaluate these experiences without the opinions of others, you'll start to find happiness within or at least you'll come up with things you want to change to find a healthier standing.

Some light Art History:  

The Monk by the Sea by Casper David Friedrich.

Let the sea encompass you.

 Let the crashing waves sing you to sleep.