Last month John Grant, aka Meticulous Mick, shared the importance of nature, travel, and culture to make one feel truly alive. In my monthly series, The Life Enthusiast Chronicles, fantastic humans from all over the world explain why life is so incredible to them.
Today I’m excited to present Andrea Stephenson of Harvesting Hecate to you all. Andrea’s blog exudes mysticism and playfulness and is always a phenomenal one to read. Often I feel that I am seeing the world like a child again when I read her posts. She marvels at the world around her, especially mother nature, and her beautiful way with words shines brightly every time. This gal’s been on my list of Life Enthusiast prospects for some time, so I’m pleased to finally have her over.
Connect with Andrea on Twitter.
Wow us, Andrea…
When Britt asked me to contribute to her life enthusiast series, I thought: ‘who me?’ I was honoured and not a little nervous to be counted among this group of inspiring bloggers.
And I haven’t always been enthusiastic about life. Years of sporadic depression and difficult life events in the last decade have seriously tested my enthusiasm.
But what has always propelled me forward and the reason I could never give up on life, is curiosity.
It’s easy to forget how miraculous the world is. We often take it and our existence in it for granted, when the fact that we’re here at all is a miracle in itself. Whether you see our existence as god-given or a happy accident, here we are, living and breathing and enjoying all of the things the world has to offer.
I began this post in the heart of the forest, surrounded by small miracles.
Above my head, nestled in the eaves of the veranda, is a swallow’s nest. An astounding feat of engineering, moulded from dirt that seems precariously positioned.
The parents are relentless. You can watch them in the distance, swooping for insects. They return every few minutes, for hours, perching on the edge of the nest to feed their chirruping babies. They never miss, flitting in and out in seconds as the babies become more vocal. And then I have only to look before me to see other small miracles: the trailing larch with its delicate branches and ruddy fir cones, waving grasses, luminous buttercups, luscious orchids.
I’m at my most content, my most ‘me’ surrounded by nature. Wandering through a forest, or along the coast, with a dog at my side is perfection.
And though I could simply soak it up and be content at its beauty, there’s always that part of me that is curious about what I see. You’ll often hear me mutter to myself ‘I wonder what that is’ and I’ll head over to have a look and make a wonderful discovery. More than anything, I’m curious about how all of this came to be and why it is so varied. Why not just one species of fly, one species of bird, one species of mammal?
The world is a cornucopia of beauty. Every single thing has purpose and sometimes it stops me in my tracks when I remember how amazing it is.
I would enjoy nature knowing nothing about it. But knowing the little that I do: how well everything works together, the continuous cycle of life and of the seasons, gives me added enjoyment. I love mystery, but I also love to know what something is. I’m curious not only about how things work but about what will happen next…where will I be in ten years time, what will I live to see, what experiences will I have had?
I think life is about exploration. It doesn’t matter whether you explore the world or you never leave your home town, it’s about exploring the wonders of life. And we all have interests that prompt that exploration.
And yes, this world can be cruel and horrific.
Sometimes being curious might seem like a disadvantage, because it causes me to think deeply about the terrible things that happen too. I rarely just accept, instead I question and rail against. Not always a comfortable state of being. But this does mean that I connect, with the good and the bad, and that makes for a fuller experience of life.
I’m creative because I’m curious. If I had no curiosity, I’d have no desire to follow a story to its conclusion or to continue brushing paint on a canvas.
The easiest way to be unenthusiastic about life is to lack curiosity. So if you’re feeling apathetic, my advice is to find something you can be curious about.
Britt Skrabanek 
Beautiful photos and post! I often go out to observe nature and always wonder how people can look at it all and believe this beautful world is just some random act from a primordial pool
Thanks for your comments Dannie – it’s either an amazing accident or a beautiful plan, but it’s wonderful how it all fits together and with such awe-inspiring beauty.
Very inspiring post. It’s curiosity that leads us to discover our passions, so it’s a wonderful way to approach life.
Thanks Carrie, that’s a great way to look at curiosity – and there are so many things to be passionate about if we look for them.
Andrea, I have a favorite black and white print of a “tiny child walking through the forest”, and the photographer has captured, perfectly, that sense of awe and curiosity that you so eloquently communicate here with your beautiful writing and photographs, Thank you!!
Thank you Henrietta – nature makes me feel like a child, with that wonderful curiosity and innocent awe. I think it’s impossible to be jaded when you walk through a forest or by the sea 🙂
❤ !! Absolutely 😀 !!
I always love reading Andrea’s words. She reminds us to stop and look around, to look at nature’s details, to be curious, to be in awe. Thanks for shining your blog light on her, Britt.
p.s. I love that first photo of Andrea on those huge rocks! (and her darling border too, of course. Borders rule!!).
Thanks Letizia, I love nature’s details. Some of the wonders are so tiny that you’d miss them if you didn’t look closely, yet they’re perfectly beautiful on a minute scale. Yay for Borders, the life enthusiasts of the dog world 🙂
Wonderful! Thank you for introducing me to another fabulous blogger!
Thanks for reading Dale 🙂
No, no.. Thanks for writing!
I love the way I see the world through your eyes Andrea. We physically see the same things but you make me look at things a second time, or from a different angle, and consider them rather than just moving on immediately.
Glad you made it through Britt’s demanding selection process 🙂
Thanks Roy, I’m glad some of my curiosity rubs off on you 🙂 As one of the life enthusiast posse you’ll know yourself how demanding that selection process is, I think I need a lie down now…:-)
Demanding selection process…ha! Damn skippy! : )
Reblogged this on Harvesting Hecate and commented:
I was delighted to be asked to become one of Britt Skrabanek’s posse of life enthusiasts over at ‘A physical perspective’. Britt is life enthusiasm personified so it’s an honour to be featured on her blog as part of this series. So, if you’d like to know my secret to staying enthusiastic about life, head over to Britt’s place and take a look at her wonderful writing while you’re there.
Thank you Britt, for inviting me to give my own spin on life enthusiasm. I’ve always loved reading this series and found it amazingly inspiring to discover what makes others enthusiastic about life. I’m ridiculously thrilled to be here 🙂
Absolutely, honey! It was totally my pleasure. You’ve been on my list for a long time. I think your nature post during this time of year was simply perfect. Thanks again!
Thanks for hosting, Andrea. Her blog is always full of beautiful words and stunning photographs. She is a true talent!
Agreed, Jill! Andrea’s one of my faves.
Thank you Jill, you’re too kind!
I’m so happy you finally got to ask Andrea to the Life Enthusiast Chronicles, Britt! Her blog is a true gem in word & image.
Wonderful, wonderful post Andrea ..they always are. You’re such an amazingly talented and inspiring writer.
I feel so much in tune with this post as I go about life with the same amount of curiosity and wonder. It fuels our passions, desires and sparks our creativity. Wasn’t it Einstein who said; “I have no special talent, I’m only passionately curious”
Totally agree, Karin! She’s been on my radar. Glad I found the right spot for our lovely gal.
Ah thanks Karin for those lovely words. You will have lots to be curious about at the moment, lots of new wonders to discover. Great quote, I think that could be said for lots of ‘talented’ people.
Many congratulations on this wonderful guest post Andrea! Your beautifully creative posts, in word and photographs, never fail to inspire. It is wonderful to share in your undiminished curiousity in nature and the magical beauty of creation that is right in front of our eyes, if only we really look. You continually remind us to keep that curiousity alive through your special brand of mystery and wonderment, and this post is no exception 🙂