A Porcupine Leaving the Salt Marsh Trail
Leave the beaten track behind occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do, you will be certain to find something you have never seen before.
Alexander Graham Bell
Both humans and animals favor the beaten track. It’s easy. It’s less work and there’s less chance of coming across the unknown. Yet, there’s a price to be paid for both men and wild creatures.
A Fox Trail at Rainbow Haven Beach
Over time, predators become aware of who goes where and when, and stalk their prey from the shadows. Hunters set snares along trails frequently used by hares and rabbits. Human travellers become accustomed to getting from point A to B, and begin to lose the peripheral vision that ignited their curiosity as children. Minds become dull and prone to boredom.
Leaving the beaten track behind doesn’t have to involve throwing caution to the wind and setting out into the wild without a compass. It can be as simple as taking a little extra time to just stop and smell the wild roses that are growing a couple of feet beyond the trail.
Wild Roses Growing Near Rainbow Haven Beach
If you’re a fair weather walker, you might consider donning some rain gear and setting out when it’s drizzling and there are puddles waiting to to be splashed along the trail. Even walking along the same path at a different time of day can open up a mountain of new possibilities. The light looks different in the morning than in the afternoon or evening. Animal traffic changes throughout the day so you might see creatures you’ve never seen before along the same trail.
Best of all, doing or learning something new will clear some of the cobwebs from your brain and make it work better for the rest of the day. That’s reason enough to leave the beaten track behind.
And now for something completely different…
~ Monty Python
July 3, 2009 at 9:20 am
Yes, yes, YES! This is a very pertinent and vital blog. Everything you say is so true. The ruts and trails in our lives get so comfortable. But when we actually dare to wander into unknown thickets, swamps, mountains or woods…our hearts will beat quicker and treasures unknown present themselves.
July 3, 2009 at 9:40 am
It is true. It is also true that you can misplace yourself and spend a lot of time looking for a road out and end up with mosquito bites. On the other hand, you can misplace yourself in your own living room if life is just going that way, so on balance it’s better to wander about in the woods accepting presents.
July 3, 2009 at 10:45 am
What a glorious post – we try to exchange seats now and then – whatever place we are sitting – in the yard – in the house – in the car. Gives a while different perspective (one time it made me get the kitchen repainted to hide UGLY wallpaper). Thanks for the input – we can all use this wisdom.
July 4, 2009 at 12:18 am
Glad you agree Kathy. Could ruts be the down side of being too comfortable? Nothing like a tromp through the swamp to cure whatever ails you
Gerry, I think I misplace myself on a regular basis just so that I can find myself again. The woods are always full of presents.
JoAnn, the little changes you mentioned are supposed to be really good exercises for the brain. The older we get, the more we tend to get set in our ways.
July 8, 2009 at 8:47 am
I love your pictures! The woods are so thick in summer here that it’s difficult to just take off through them…also the ticks can be a nuisance, but I agree that we do find more of interest if we change our view.
I was looking for Queen Anne’s lace along the side of the road and came across a “Jack-in-the-Pulpit” near the stone wall. If I hadn’t looked closely I would never have seen it!
July 9, 2009 at 6:02 am
Thanks millhill. Yes you do have to watch out for those ticks. They’re not as much of a problem here. The Queen Anne’s Lace isn’t in bloom here yet but it won’t be long. It’s amazing what we will almost trip over when we’re looking for something specific in nature.
July 10, 2009 at 8:40 am
Just thinking about things differently is a version of “leaving the beaten track” – so congrats on that, Flan!
July 11, 2009 at 4:48 am
these are deep thoughts. thanks.
July 11, 2009 at 7:21 am
Thanks for your comments pepsoid and Wind. I think Alexander Graham Bell may have made his remark with innovation and scientific discovery in mind. There are so many paths of interpretation when it comes to the idea of leaving the beaten track behind.