Mother Of All National Parks. Yellowstone!

When I created this blog, it was inspired by a Ted Talk on how our shared experiences of feeling inspired, blown-away, breathless, awe, has the capability to unite, heal, and connect our otherwise divided world. I have shared on my first post how I will never forget that first awe-inspiring feeling. Read here: https://www.inconstantawe.com/post/finding-awe

Once again, I found myself in awe! What to expect of the first ever National Park in the United States? I had none. I am prepared to be blown away by this magnificent area. I did imagine however, when someone came and set foot on this place, it must have been so overwhelming, that their instinct is to protect it, and never let it be harmed. That is how perfect Yellowstone is. You experience its beauty, it's fragility, and you too would want it safe, secure, untouched.

Like a mother's love, the vastness of this National Park is unfathomable for my simple mind. The mountains seem to not end, the river do not seem to stop flowing, the steam never cease to blow. My mind went to wonder how our precious Earth had transformed and evolved throughout the millions of years She's been around. And how, like a true Mother, she has not ceased caring, homing, teaching. How these mountains have been witness to our ever changing evolution as human beings. And how like a true Mother, I have great respect, admiration, and most of all love.

It is expansive, it is vast, it is encompassing. It is as far as your eyes can see. She will take your breath away as she draws you in. Her forest dense, Her river flowing, Her water falls roaring, and wild life flourishing. Like an infant meeting her mother for the first time. The touch, the sounds, the smells, it all feels enchantingly familiar. This is what all we needed, our world, lush, beautiful, safe.

Like Mothers, its mountain ranges stretch like arms protecting you for you from strong winds and currents. Like Mothers these arms provide comfort and warmth. When you are lost wandering around the plains, it is your shelter from the snow and storm and sun. Her arms strong yet gentle, short but always reaching. Its rivers are like the blood that runs through her veins delivering nourishment and warmth throughout our bodies. Her warmth never ends. Through cold winter nights and hails and blizzards, the warmth she provide feels like hot chocolate on a winter night.

Oh! And Mothers have their tempers too! These Geysers and Hot Springs let this mother cool off. She will bubble, let off a little steam once in a while, and then sometimes She will need to erupt like an Old Faithful. She tries to protect you from the tectonic movements of life, letting Herself be the vent to ease your pain. She listens, and sees all that is happening around us. And sometimes, these tiny pockets of steam is her own way telling us, she is just like us. She needs an outlet. She has a boiling point. She has a limit, she needs to erupt. Being the perfect Mother that she is, is a lot of pressure.

This Mother, left unfiltered, untouched, can house us all. Finding balance amongst prey and predators, the ever changing seasons of winter, summer, and fall. The evolution and movement of the forces above and below. But She too has her flaws. Her beauty, her magnificence, her generosity, leads her to demise. She's so naïve and pure. Her unconditional love makes Her think that We will care for her. That We will fight for her. That We will be gentle with Her. But our need. Our need for Her is so strong, so intense, we cannot get enough, we want more. More than what she can bear. More than what She can offer. One day, this Mother, is over-tired from people who want to show love for the sake of showing. One day, this Mother is tired of being the background of our still images. And one day, this Mother, soon will not be the perfect Mother that she was when She first revealed herself. This Mother, soon will just be a distant memory of what could have been.

For today, call your mother. By phone or through your special heart-mind connection. Think of her. She may not be perfect. Forgive her for her imperfections. I truly believe that all mothers are doing their best . You are here because of her, you are a better person because of her. You learned life watching her. She is not you, you are not her, but together you two are the perfect puzzle piece in this journey called life.