Fern's Salutation

Fern woke up from a truly delicious nap with dandelion fluff in her hair. She yawned as she wiped sleep-infused blurriness from her eyes. Though still a bit groggy, a smile slowly emerged, and found its way to her face as she looked around her rustic cabin. As she wakened more fully, she noted the familiar smell of the forest wandering in from her window. The smell of late summer filled her senses. She was indeed, happy. Memories of this year, now half passed, filled her heart. As often occurred, every lesson of joy that she learned was tinged with a touch of sadness and realization. Upon her exhalation, she felt a sad something or other wandering about her heart.

You see, Fern was a bit of a curious soul. Though she often kept to herself, she loved meeting and learning from the animals and the occasional person who wandered into her life. She was always thankful when people told her their story, since they helped her to let go of her sadness momentarily. Only Fern truly knew why she would occasionally feel sadness creep into her heart. A person that she met once told her, “Fern, you are lonely only when you are a stranger to yourself. For there is a difference between knowing much about many things, and knowing much about yourself, first.” Fern pondered on that conversation from time to time. She had learned several seasons ago that learning about ourselves is often about unlearning, rather than getting something. Feeling this vulnerability often hurt her heart more than she wanted to admit to herself. Still, she had come to realize that it was meaningful to feel vulnerable from time to time. That is because vulnerability reveals what parts of us need mending.

Walking outside, Fern stretched and felt the warm caress of the sun against her face. It was a gentle reminder that she had more to learn and appreciate about her life. Fern loved the forest that she lived in. It was green, and always bursting with life. The foliage was both immensely dense, yet airy and spacious. Even when the sky would become misty with rain, the appearance of grey clouds whispered that these times were meant for introspection and thankfulness. Her bare feet brushed the grass gently as the scent of flowers in bloom wafted from almost every direction. As the breeze softly brushed her hair against her eyelashes, she was reminded that the rainy season was approaching. With each new rain, the forest seemed to to reborn with each rainy day. It was like the forest was releasing its emotions so as to emerge with renewed perspective. To wash away what was no longer needed, and to make room for life that would persist. Fern knew that she would do the same

Yes, the meetings that she had with every person taught her many lessons. The ones that took seed in her heart were amongst the most enduring and endearing to her. For they were quiet, and took root across her life. She had built connections with family and friends who brought many smiles and tears to her eyes over the years. Some had stayed, and some had taken their leave. However, they taught her that fellow feeling is the catalyst to personal and collective growth. Still, even after so many lessons, she still found herself becoming a bit angry when friends had to depart, and continue their journeys. She used to insist on their staying around a bit longer, but had more recently learned that when someone needed to continue their journey, they would bloom and grow much more so when she let them go. Her heart would lighten as she breathed into the space that opened up after each meeting and period of reciprocal learning. She celebrated when they continued onward, knowing that they were refreshed having had time to reflect and share their wisdom with her. For it taught her that nothing is ever lost when it is celebrated and remembered. When perceived with the heart, a goodbye is only a separation with what is seen, not with memories and the lessons they teach us. Perspective took root with each step she took. Indeed, she was learning that realizations, like emotions, cascaded like waves. They are subject to change, and develop throughout our lives if we listen.

Fern took a deep breath, and examined the intentions of her heart. She knew that the intentions that we explore reveal what we truly wanted to see in the world around us. It puts us in step with the experiences of people outside of our own personal perspective. In the process, our innermost ideals are revealed, as well as how we want to manifest them. We learn to see past what we think we know, and reveal emotions that shape our renewed actions. Fern was learning how to appreciate beauty again with every passing day. It was the fast-paced world that led to the realization that simple things could re-enliven her and give her some peace of mind and heart. In such a fast-paced world, exploring beauty became an exercise in slowing down and appreciating what was often overlooked. She gained a deeper understanding of her pain and how to overcome it by giving her time and attention to the people that she met. Travelers of like-mind and heart. When the friends that she had met would leave, which friends do from time to time, she had learned not to grieve the loss of their leaving. Rather, she was learning to appreciate learning new ways to love and make room for the people who taught her meaningful lessons. Indeed, from time to time, old friends would sometimes return. When they did, they had new lessons to teach in the form of their families that reminded her, again, that life persists. It reminded her that she could as well.

Fern took a deep breath, and let herself shed a few tears of thanks. The sadness slowly evaporated from her heart for the time being, and she smiled again. She smiled and quietly laughed to herself as she remembered the lesson that her heart told her many years ago, “adults are, at their core, children searching for and finding home.” She knew that the journey for home was a life-long one that would always fill her with hope and moments of sadness alike. It was worth every tear though. She knew that for certain. Everyday, life teaches us lessons. It is a gentle form of metamorphosis.