Unplugging and Reconnecting

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. "

John Burroughs

As I sit on the eve of an extended Labor Weekend getaway to the mountains with family, I am getting excited to get away from computers, from phones and from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Sound familiar??? This is a sentiment that I hear time, and time again each summer while volunteers are in West Virginia. We have limited internet access, no cell phone access and are literally forced, in the most beautiful way, to talk and to listen to each other. We enjoy each others company, playing games together, getting to know each, communing with nature, and in general slowing down. We have heard many times from volunteers that their volunteer experience is like a retreat, a chance to step back and reflect on life and realize what is most important. It is essential to have these moments in our lives. For some it may not be in nature, but on a quiet subway ride or in the company of a close friend. I think the important part is to have these moments and to grateful in these moments.