A fascinating vitality
Jeff at Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, May 2009
“Moving water…has a fascinating vitality. It has power and grace and associations. It has a thousand colors and a thousand shapes, yet it follows laws so definite that the tiniest streamlet is an exact replica of a great river.” — Roderick Haig-Brown
We lived in Memphis during the years Jeff was in dental school, and I loved the city for many reasons, but what I loved best was the mighty Mississippi River. I never tired of sitting on the bluff at Tom Lee Park and watching the river flow.
There’s something mesmerizing about watching water in motion. Ocean waves, woodland brooks and waterfalls all have a calming quality, lovely to the eyes and soothing to the ears. It’s no wonder there are so many indoor and outdoor fountains that enhance the appeal of parks, city squares and indoor atriums everywhere. But even the most beautiful fountain is no match for the experience of standing on a riverbank, wading through a creek or feeling the cooling mist of a waterfall.
The hot days of August are perfect for enjoying the beauty of water. Head for a nearby park that has a creek or waterfall tucked away on a shady trail, or take a few minutes to enjoy a fountain at a plaza, hotel or shopping center. If you don’t have time to find one in real life, enjoy the sights and sounds recorded here or here or here. I’m wishing you a few minutes of cool mental refreshment on this warm August day!
This post was originally published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: brooks, calming, cascades, cataracts, creeks, rapids, refreshing, rivers, soothing, water, waterfalls, whitewater
Defeat Despair 
Good morning, Julia!
I like how your posts yesterday and today are about going to the desert, and going to flowing water – for basically similar reasons.
Blessings on your day!
Susan, until you pointed it out, I had not noticed that 1-2 sequence of desert/water, but you’re right; both offer similar benefits. I guess you can mark that up to the divine source of both. We are enjoying a relatively cool day here – in the mid 80’s instead of mid 90’s — and what a difference that makes! I definitely think hot weather makes me grouchier.
I’m glad you’re getting some relief!
Now that it’s September it’s much better. The weather here seems to turn literally with the calendar.