The United States National Parks are a great way to have a Child at Heart experience. Viewing nature in the parks can be stunning, breathtaking, and awe-filled experience that helps get perspective on your world. There are over 83 million acres of National Parks in the United States that allow for a breakaway from our every day stress.
Shelton Johnson has been a park ranger for 15 years. On September 20, he appeared on the CBS Sunday Morning show.
He said it this way “When we become adults we become anesthetized to the beauty of the earth that we stop seeing it and stop hearing it. But when we’re in a National Park it reawakens that sense of wonder that we all had when we were kids. Everything is new, everything is fresh. This is the first day that ever has been. It pulls you out of whatever it is that you are and into something that is much greater than you are. I’ve never been in any other environment that had that capacity to evoke so much wonder.”
I fully agree. Taking a vacation allows us to see things in a new way. In the parks there is little negative emotions such as greed, sadness, etc. People are at peace and amazed by the scenic environments. I’ve been to several of the parks and none has disappointed. I still remember my first view of the Grand Canyon.
It was so incredible that I almost thought it can’t be real. It looked like a painting. This is ironic because a painting often mimics nature and I was seeing the real thing with all its vivid colors. The Canyon brings about a sense of wonder that makes you want to know it’s secrets.
Ken Burns has a new series about the National Parks airing on PBS that should be a great introduction to those that you’d like to see in person. Here’s a list of 10 National Parks you don’t want to miss. [1. Yosemite, 2. Yellowstone, 3. Everglades, 4. Zion, 5. Shenandoah, 6. Grand Canyon, 7. Denali, 8. Glacier, 9. Great Smoky Mountains, and 10. Acadia] If you did one per year, it’d take 10 years to see them all!
So take a trip to a park. Take in a sunrise or sunset over amazing scenery. Breath deeply, get things in perspective, and feel renewed.
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