The Clearing

Wednesday I woke up, in a bit of a "daze" from my previous night activities.  The daze cleared and after not more than a moment, I got out of my bed and began to adhere to my sudden desire to just GO.  I didn't really know where, or why, but I wanted to GO.  It was an odd sensation to say the least, but I trusted my gut.  In record time, I slipped into some travelling clothes, applied my purple lipstick, threw on my trusty converse and began to pack a bag.  Art stuff/writing material/reading material, a blanket, and some chex mix were to be my instruments of adventure and they fit nicely into my backpack.  With water bottle in hand, phone off and mind made up I strolled outside and began to walk.  The funny thing about it all is as soon as I walked outside, I realized I had never really become intimate with the city in which I had dwelled for the last two years.  By that I mean I had never explored it, never sought out understanding it, never desired to know about the hidden places, coves, and potential adventures that Corvallis could hold.  I had just never thought it to be necessary.  But as I find my time here dwindling down, I found that the time frame in which I could really know this city for what it could be was also expiring.  I looked towards the rolling hills on the outside of Corvallis, and began to GO.  With nothing but the company of my surroundings and my own motivation to go, I started off towards these hills in which I wanted to know.  I encourage you to take advantage of your surroundings, stay unplugged from the cyber world, and just go towards discovery. The adventure that transpires is enlightening and entirely rejuvenating.  And *big shocker* I wrote poetry about it.  As well as attached pictures for those that need some visual guidance.  Enjoy.

The Clearing

I didn't know where I was going

Or where I would stop,

Perhaps amongst the daisies

Or at the mountain top  

I was asked "Do you know where you going?"

I said, "Not I, or anyone does,"

But I knew that I would know

When I reached wherever it was

So off I went right then,

with no time to think twice,

I went out the door not looking back

Searching for alive

I simply sought out space,

Where I could listen to the sky's sound,

I shortly did discover

that that space is all around

The tall grass waved as I passed

the trees seemed to reach out,

I marveled at the warmth

This was what its about.

The wind wrapped me in her arms,

As the birds narrate,

I felt so attuned

To this place I habitate

I came to many crossroads,

I faced many forks,

I cared not which way I took

Any adventure works

It started with a hunger

To break from the confined,

Then transformed to a need

To leave it all behind

Whether it was inspiration

Or a craving for life,

I can't say what sparked it

This desire to merely thrive

I suppose I couldn't take it 

The perpetual choice to stay in,

My mind was now looking for vacancies

In an outdoor haven

I basked in my adventure

I waded in its wake,

who knew that no direction,

was the best choice I could make?

And this lack of direction,

this trust in my path

brought me great perspective 

to my daily track

I searched for a clearing

One just out of the way,

Where I could lay against the earth

And just bathe in the day

I came to many options,

At each I'd think, "I'm set."

But shortly after, I'd feel a pull

telling me, "you're not there yet."

So I continued on,

with the road strongly holding up my feet,

I breathed in my space,

And smiled at those who passed me.

At last I approached an opening,

The clearing I envisioned,

A bond soon grew between us

I had made my decision

I planted myself along the grass,

I greeted all the flowers,

I took my shoes off briskly

And planned my next few hours

I certainly felt a grace,

An unparalleled peace,

But a disappointment sat in

As I looked up to the trees.

I had estimated a satisfaction

would arrive in toppling force,

but I sat there unresolved

Waiting for there to be more.

I looked out at my view,

A beautiful one I knew,

As I lingered in its presence,

An understanding grew

I made up my mind that morning,

I chose to get out of my spot,

I had acted on this notion,

And just LOOK at this beautiful place I got

I had re-awoken the flame

That adventure can be,

And that burning desire to GO

Should have been enough for me

But I was driven further,

Stumbling into bliss,

The JOURNEY was what made up

The moment that was this.

So I stopped my line of thinking,

I knew I needed to quit

Always looking for the next thing

and asking "this is it?"

Because I acted on a now,

A present whim I fostered

I hadn't a plan for a "next step"

leaving the future un-bothered

And in doing that I preserved

The ability to enjoy now

Omitting the stress of the future,

 No why's, where's or hows

So as I did before,

I lived in the moment,

I wrote and loved and reflected

On what this journey alone meant

Because though I was alone,

the one witness to the day,

there were so many others

that made my journey this way

The smiles from those passing,

The earth in all her glory,

Were with me the whole time

Helping me write this story

I really don't know where I'm going,

And I can say I really don't care

Because where you get to is only as relevant

As the journey that got you there.

.K SG C.

Get out today.  Destination is good for the mind, journey is good for the soul.