“Whenever I need to leave it all behind
Or feel the need to get away.
I find a quiet place, far from the human race
Out in the country.”
— Roger S. Nichols, Paul H Williams
It was one of those days — far too many demands, far too little time to deal with them all. When it all finally got to be too much, it became imperative that a few minutes to step away and breathe were necessary. Finding a quiet corner, taking a few deep gulps and visualizing a happy place went a long way to putting life back in order.
My happy place, of course, had nothing to do with bricks and mortar. It certainly didn’t take me into the heart of the city; I wasn’t thinking about towering skyscrapers, or hearing the busy sounds of traffic. Nor was I sitting in the relative quiet of my backyard, where neighbours are mowing their lawns and raising their hands in greeting.
No, when I needed to get away it was into the pastoral countryside, where woodlots rise up beside wide, open spaces, where the quiet babble of a brook competes only with the gentle rustle of trees or the sweet trill of songbirds.
Whether I head to the beautiful north country of French River or take a walk on the trail that runs through my daughter’s rural property, the life I’m living changes. My head clears, my lungs fill; my pace slows, my heart quickens. I actually look and see, listen and hear.
But you can’t always be where you need to be. Thankfully, even visualizing or seeing a picture of a peaceful rural landscape can be as calming as a deep breath. Here then are some lovely photo collections to take you out in the country:
