Nothing seems as good for my soul as a long walk in the woods. The sun is shining on the frozen lake. The water is warming and thawing slowly. But the forest calls me to its shadows.

Buds are appearing on the branches. Crocus and bluebells make their colorful entry to the forest floor. The stately fir trees stand in ancient rows. The ground is muddy as it thaws, but leaves absorb the damp, making a squishy carpet on which to walk.

In the shadows of the trees, it is cool. An icy chill lingers. In the sun, it is almost hot and requires the removal of my jacket. The sunlight dapples the landscape and clouds provide a moving picture of light. People move joyfully through the trees. Birds sing. A breeze blows across the ice. My soul heals.