18 Comments
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Diane's avatar

I absolutely love this piece. I work in mental health in the US and this is a very difficult time for many. Nature is my refuge and I encourage others to follow suit as much as possible. The trees give us so much, and what do we give back?

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

Diane, I can't even imagine the difficulties and pain you witness. Thank you for what you do to help humanity.

The trees ask for so little. I keep coming back to how it feels to stand in nature and grasp the enormity of the love I feel there. I'm happy to hear it's the same for you. A refuge from all that is wrong.

Thank you for reading. I truly appreciate it.

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Amy Oscar's avatar

This is prescient -like a vivid dream, rendered in moonlight and sunlight and stars. I love this and its author. This is gorgeous.

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

Thank you thank you my precious Amy. I'm so grateful for your words.

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Esme Y.'s avatar

When you stop treating people like objects, you also start treating the natural world as a precious and irreplaceable.

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Sarah. Just Add Hyperfocus's avatar

🤗🌱❤️

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Imola's avatar

"I firmly believe, now more than ever, that creativity is an act of rebellion against a corrupt and dangerous system built on taking it away from us. " I believe this too. And I always love to read you Diana!!

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Holly Becker / Decor8's avatar

Wow! I read this slowly, then read it again. It’s the kind of writing that lingers. You say you were blocked, but something deep and true still made it through - it’s my favorite post from you yet! Gorgeous piece, Diana!

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

Oh thank you my love. I'm so glad you liked it. Sometimes it takes pushing through the inertia to see what's really there. 🧡

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Alecia Stevens's avatar

I remember as the mom of my two young children (late 1980s) that I would give them time outs when I felt the most love and empathy and compassion for their incapacity in the moment to take in everything coming at them. It was a gift of love then. It sounds like you are bringing a beautiful mother/ earth mother to yourself. We aren’t going anywhere. Write when you feel like it. 🕊️

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

Alecia, that stepping back from the overwhelm is a life skill. I understand why you felt deep empathy in giving your kids that moment. It makes perfect sense. Buona giornata, carissima.

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Sally's avatar

Big hug, Diana. I join you in the hurt.

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

Warmest light and love, Sally.

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Dana McMahan's avatar

Oh Diana. Sending love from my trees to yours.

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

And back to you 🧡 I'm envisioning you on your porch, listening to nature and creating your projects. I love that visual.

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Neva Baxter's avatar

Thank you for you beautiful, thoughtful words. So needed at this time. We can all be a Light of Spirit and Love if we choose to be conscious and mindful. When we fail, we just redirect ourselves again, that is the sacred path. Love and blessings to you Diana.

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Diana Strinati Baur's avatar

Neva, this is indeed our sacred path. Warmest light and love to you.

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Tracey Edelist, PhD's avatar

Thank you for listening to the trees, Diana, and sharing their wisdom. Love, nature, beauty, creativity — I too think these interconnected aspects of life are what we need to survive well, to live meaningfully. Being within nature, and especially experiencing the beauty of Italy (I fell in love with all the trees — the umbrella pines, cypresses, sycamores, the olive and fig and persimmon trees, all the trees), fuels my creativity, grounds me, and awakens me to how I want life to feel.

There is peace and love, connectedness and vibrant life within nature and I wish for everyone to drop the phones and computers and artificial intelligences to be present in and with the natural world, even if only for a few moments, but preferable for much longer.

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