Whether in nature, life, or business, it all seems to come down to a question of balance and scale. The ancient Greeks had it right with their “all things in moderation” philosophy. Vermont is one of the rare places where people understand this, and for the most part, are getting it right on both a collective and individual level. As easy as it is to be overwhelmed by the increasingly frantic and superficial world these days, it’s just as easy to love Vermont for the exact opposite effects—serenity, reflection, and contentment."
- from A Lone Star in the Green Mountains
EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE:
THE DESTINATION AND THE JOURNEY I’m not where I ought to be. I was once, and I’ve never forgotten since what it’s like to fully belong to a place. To feel deep in my bones that the landscape fulfills some visceral need I must have been born with. To be constantly surprised and moved by the natural world: the sun melting behind the mountains, deer standing immobile in the moonlight, or the magic of autumn’s blazing colors. To share a kinship with those who’ve been drawn there for the same reasons I have. To understand and appreciate how lucky we are to have found such like-minded community in this very special place. To feel anchored, centered, right—sane. These days, I can go back there easily enough. It’s only a few hours’ drive away. For now, I’m satisfied with two or three visits a year. As time goes by, though, I find I want to be there more and more and for longer. My “ought to be” place is Vermont. All it takes to mentally get me there is a green license plate sighting or the first hint of leaves turning in the fall. Soon, I’m grinning like a child who knows a secret. Merely thinking of the Green Mountain State causes an automatic and immediate shift in consciousness. I become measurably lighter in mood, more peaceful, and calmly receptive. Countering my usual “glass half empty” view of the world, endless possibility opens up before me. Who wouldn’t want to be in a place that makes them feel this way? |
© 2013 by Kathryn Bonnez