Nature is the Antidote

Nothing happens overnight.

I am content today,

despite mounting responsibilities

of parenting as unsupported immigrant

in the mid-life, in these stressful times.

Why?

Because I have the antidote —

it's free, and has no side effects.

It’s my daily time in nature.

It clears the dust and grime

from my soul,

even when life plays foul.

The sun filtering through the canopy,

the cheerful dandelions, birdsongs,

the blue sky and puffy cumulus clouds,

the senescent leaf, fragrance of gardenia

a ladybug, a chrysalis, a sunbathing lizard —

they all play part, in giving joy to my heart.

This habit of nature appreciation

was sown in early childhood.

As if I saw the ugliness of society

and the pain of life early on —

and I knew nature can be a cushion

to keep my inner child alive.

I continue to take nature therapy.

It makes me feel fulfilled — and happy.

I encourage you to soak in nature's serenities

and heal from the pain and anxieties.