Every summer for over 25 years Thom and I have rented a house in a small mountain town named Idyllwild for a month. Originally planned as a way to escape the summer heat in our desert valley home, it quickly became an annual retreat of sorts. This sojourn helps us to recapture the joy of summer, hike familiar local trails, and to connect more with nature. The trees, the nearby running creek, the privacy and the quiet are something that feels as familiar as any place we have ever lived.
So with the intention of finding one quote and putting it on a photo for this week’s blog post. I instead found a number of quotes I liked so much that I decided to share the best 15 of them with all of you. These say exactly what I would like to say about nature and remembering that connection. It is my hope that each of you find a way to spend time outdoors this summer and remember the precious gift it offers us all.
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…” ~John Muir
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~Lao Tzu
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” ~Albert Einstein
“Nature is one of the most underutilized treasures in life. It has the power to unburden hearts and reconnect to that inner place of peace.” ~Janice Anderson
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” ~John Muir
“I’m a person of the mountains and the open paddocks and the big empty sky, that’s me, and I knew if I spent too long away from all that I’d die; I don’t know what of, I just knew I’d die.” ~John Marsden
“When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.” ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“Be like a mountain; do not let anything disturb your inner peace.” ~Debasish Mridha
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery – air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy’.” ~Sylvia Plath
“Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.” ~Anatoli Boukreev
“Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything – even mountains, rivers, plants and trees – should be your teacher.” ~Morihei Ueshiba
“He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary.” ~Friedrich Neitszche
“Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy.” ~Isaac Newton
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” ~Henry David Thoreau
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” ~Henry David Thoreau
Okay, those are the best I could find…for me. What about you? Please share any favorites of yours in the comments below.
Kathy, I’m glad to hear you are getting some time in the mountains. As you know, I love the outdoors and spend time in nature most days. It’s meditative, it feeds the soul, and it fills me with awe and gratitude for this incredible earth that we are part of.
Jude
These are really beautiful! Thank you for sharing them. I have always loved nature. Mostly I walk in the grass barefoot. It has the most calming effect on me.
Hi Misty! Glad you liked them. And yes, just the mental feeling of toes in grass feels grounding. Right now I’m in the forest so not much grass…but anyway we can actually “touch” nature has to be good for us. ~Kathy
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” ~John Muir
Hi Kathy,
My son Chris and I had a discussion recently about this very thing…that he needs time in the woods to “reset” himself. I think that if more folks spent time in nature they would understand better how essential nature is to our psyche. And that preservation of the environment is essential to OUR preservation.
Hi Nancy! Isn’t that a great quote? And I agree with you and your son. There are so many articles coming out these days that show that spending time in Nature is not only good for our mental health, but our emotional and physical health too. Unfortunately most people (especially those who live in cities) have become very removed from nature. And I can’t help but think that is behind so many problems in the world today. I’m doing my best to enjoy my “medicine” this month. ~Kathy
I like this one best and I am taking a deep breath…“Be like a mountain; do not let anything disturb your inner peace.” ~Debasish Mridha
Hi Gary! Yes….this is a constant reminder in our house. That and breathing. And isn’t it amazing how much nature plays a key in keeping us calm and grounded? I’m hoping your week unfolds as peacefully as possible. ~Kathy
Oh wow! You captured all of my favourite nature quotes, Kathy.
There used to be a popular park on the river in the town I grew up in called Idylwild. There was a trolley that took people there to picnic and swim in the river, in all their gay 90s finery (from the old picture postcards I’ve seen). I can’t imagine swimming in the Speed River now, but this was well over 100 years ago. The trail I walk just about every weekend is all that remains of the trolley line.
There is another, bigger city-run park now further down the trail from where Idylwild used to be. This is the park I grew up using. But I still look across the river on my walks to where Idylwild was and wonder why it became defunct. It’s still a pretty spot, although there is a rock quarry operation behind it now.
Thanks for sharing this post Kathy. We all need regular doses of Vitamin Nature, I think. I know I do.
Deb
Hi Deb! It is a rather “catchy” name huh? I think visions of Swiss Alps and Austrian chalets come to mind. While our mountains aren’t that high, the little town sits at a little over 5,000 feet with a peak of another 1,000 or so. There are no skiing resorts on this particular mountain range which has kept the city smaller…much smaller than relatively nearby Big Bear. We like it that way. We don’t come here for the crowds for sure. They’ve had some rough times in the last couple of years….a HUGE fire and then floods that washed out access roads…but they are still here. Oh, and one of the best things is that the town is only a little over an hour drive away from where we live. So close…yet so far away. I hope our Idyllwild stay healthy and vibrant much longer than yours did! And yes to getting lots of your Vitamin Nature! ~Kathy
First, let me say that I love the name, Idyllwild. It suggests a mischevious bent to your wilderness adventures. As for quotes, I like all of these but what’s missing is, “The mountains are calling and I must go,” by John Muir. But you are missing an Edward Abbey quote. “Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.”
Hi Jennifer! Hahaha…I’ve never thought of it as mischievous before but I’m sure there are plenty of forest elves nearby 😉 . And thank you for adding two more great quotes especially the one by Edward Abbey! That definitely needs to be included. ~Kathy
Hi Kathy, Just the name of the town sounds pretty. I agree with the precious gift of nature. We are surrounded by nature here. Yet, we make a point of going to Long Beach on the West Coast every year. Unplugged, ocean waves, forest hikes, truly a retreat. I like all of the quotes and especially Janice Anderson’s quote. I am sharing your post on my quotes board on Pinterest. Decided to get back on Pinterest again as a place to store gems:) Erica
Hi Erica! Yes it is a lovely little down but it’s had a VERY difficult time the last couple of years. Last summer they had a horrible fire that burned thousands of surrounding acres. Then this winter they had major flooding with tons of rain that washed out 2 of the 3 roads you can access to reach town. (they are hoping to open 1 of those roads very soon but not yet!) You can imagine how horrible that is for the residents AND for tourism. It is such a small sweet town…only about 4,000 permanent residences. I think remembering how important Nature is…plus remembering how we need to help protect and preserve it is so very important. You live surrounded by nature most of the time so you KNOW how important that is. I’m looking forward to our visit next month! ~Kathy
Thoreau references have now come up three times in three weeks…. I’m thinking it’s time to read him more intentionally. Putting him on my to-read list!
Hi Pat! Good for you for “noticing” when those types of coincidences show up. I tend to think they are a message from the Universe too. I like Thoreau but I still prefer Emerson. So much inspiration! ~Kathy
What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives? E. M. Forster
To me, it’s all about feeling connected – to the Creator and all of creation.
Hi Jane! I LOVE that quote too. I did not find it in all my searching so thank you so much for including it. And yes, nature is an ultimate spiritual experience! ~Kathy
Your retreat sounds heavenly! I love Idyllwild, although I haven’t been there in a while. You two have been getting around quite a bit lately… good for you. I’m definitely looking forward to getting out into nature on Vancouver Island!
Hi Janis! If you need an Idyllwild fix, come up for a visit. We love having friends up so keep that in mind. Of course we will be seeing you next month on Vancouver Island where the experience of nature will be even more profound. I’m excited for that too!!!! ~Kathy
Hubby is currently cutting holes in the walls and ceiling of our guest room to install can lights. If I could sneak away… believe me, I would 🙂 See you next month!
You have captured quite well, the essence of nature with this great set of quotes, Kathy! My faves are the John Muir quotes, and I rather like Isaac Newton’s. Nature is indeed no dummy! I’ll be laid up for a few weeks after foot surgery. I’ll be jonesing for nature soon!
Hi Terri! I know you are a big nature junkie from following your blog all these years. And yes, I could have used 15 of John Muir’s quotes because he absolutely LOVED nature and wrote about it so eloquently! I’ll be sending you good vibes for your foot surgery and I’m certain you’ll be back in nature very soon. ~Kathy
Good quotes! Out in nature is so refreshing and beautiful. It does feed the soul! I don’t have any quotes to add, sorry 🙁
Hi Haralee! Yes…I know you in Oregon so you likely get your nature fix on a regular basis….and we do too. But summers in the desert make it a bit tricker. Far better to get out of town if you can. Thank goodness we “rightsized” so we can do it. ~Kathy