Through The Eyes Of A Child

There are few things that fill my soul quite like hiking, and this past week I had the joy of sharing one of my favorite pastimes with my seven-year-old granddaughter. We’ve explored trails together before, but this was the first time it was just the two of us, setting off hand in hand for our own little adventure.

I chose two trails that have become old friends—paths I’ve wandered more times than I can count. I thought I knew every twist, every tree, and every overlook, but hiking beside her reminded me that even the most familiar places can become brand new when seen through fresh eyes.

While I’m often chatting with a friend or quietly lost in thought as I hike, she was completely immersed in the world around her. She spotted an Abert's squirrel (black squirrels with tufted ears that are a unique sight in Colorado's ponderosa pine forests), a bright bluebird, a red bird, a hummingbird, a very rare dragonfly (she considers herself somewhat of a dragonfly expert after her first-grade project 😊), schools of fish and tiny minnows in a pond, a monarch butterfly, several heart-shaped rocks, and a tree so swirly and twirly that we couldn’t imagine how it had grown into such a magical shape. 

Somewhere between all of her joyful discoveries, I realized that she had given me a gift without even knowing it. She reminded me to slow down, to notice the little things, and to appreciate not only the incredible beauty woven throughout nature but also the boundless curiosity that children bring to it—where every dragonfly is extraordinary, every oddly shaped tree tells a story, and every heart-shaped rock feels like a treasure waiting to be found.

As summer continues, I hope you’ll make time to wander a trail, sit beside a stream, or simply pause long enough to notice the wonder that surrounds you. And if you have the chance to experience nature through the eyes of a child, don’t pass it up—you may discover that the greatest adventure isn’t finding something new, but learning to see the familiar with a heart full of wonder once again.

Warmly,

~Wendy