by Cheryl Magyar – One was born in a town of Romania, another was brought to life in the suburbs of America, and the third arrived quietly on a homestead in Hungary, with animals waiting patiently, in complete silence, just outside the door.
Our births were given dates and exact locations, to be institutionalized and stamped on a certificate of existence, yet it remains that we were all born here on this benevolent Earth. Just as animals are free to roam, so have we taken it upon ourselves to uproot our lives in order to meet each other, to travel and explore, and find a loving place we can call home, together.
Nature is the life force that brings happiness, stability and adventure – it is what feeds us, nourishes us and breathes life into our very souls. We cannot live without it, therefore we must feel it every day to connect deeply and profoundly with all beings around us. The more time we spend in nature, the more we discover that we are one and the same with all plants, animals, even rocks in the flowing creek, with insects in the meadows, with the creatures of the forest. It is not a matter of me, or my, or I, it is us and we together who are responsible for the future health of the environment. And as we face a devastating human contribution to climate change, we have to ask why is it so hard to change our wasteful habits and our waning relationship with nature?
As a family we started walking barefoot on our farm in Hungary nearly nine years ago. This was the primary catalyst for our sustainable change. And when we did put on shoes, we wore handmade rope soled shoes, sewn with linen thread, compostable at their very end. We began to feel the energies of the Earth through our soles, and as we did this, we developed a better understanding of why we are here, and what we should be doing differently to live a healthier life, one in accordance with honoring nature – and ourselves.
From the conception of our daughter, Csermely, we made it a point to spend time outside every day; we still practice this today and will continue this practical ritual forever.
Homesteading in the hills of northern Romania allows us to walk places near and far, it promotes foraging hikes and the collection of fruits and nuts in season, it favors us having an organic garden where we can both grow and share what we need. There are inviting places to roam, to be curious, to seek new and exciting experiences.
Living in the countryside is the best place to raise a wild child, for there is no excuse in the wood-wide web to stay inside by an illuminated screen all day. To go outside is to be. To be connected is to exist in a world attached to feelings, emotions and energies. In a modern world where technology is approaching a peak state, it goes without saying that we all need to take the time to disconnect from the noise associated with televisions, smart phones, and cities.
To live simply is a conscious choice we make continuously by inviting everyday actions of sustainability into our lives. In order to not pollute the environment, we have chosen to minimize our use of plastic; in the pursuit of less, we do not own more than we need to live within the means of a sustainably thriving lifestyle.
We plant trees not only to sequester carbon, but to provide soil stability and a wildlife habitat that can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Is it important to find yourself in nature everyday? The resounding answer is yes – take off your shoes and find out for yourself.
Cheryl Magyar is a freelance writer and sustainable life designer, helping families and small business discover ways of meaningful life and work in alignment with the energies of the Earth at ForestCreekMeadows.
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