In the woods, water flows through rivers and streams without a thought about who or what might be passing by. It carries leaves and sticks downstream, wears boulders into pebbles, and smooths sharp edges with its quiet power.

Listening to the stream as the water passed by, time seemed to pass more slowly, too. I had taken a hike to get out of the house, and I sat on the side of this stream, taking a moment to breathe. It didn’t take long for the stress of life to start to dissipate, my breathing slowing as the water seemed to wash it all away.

In taking that pause, I returned to my hike with more energy and vigor. In this photo, just as the water washes down the mountain, the veins of nature cleansing the forest, we, too, need the time to rest, to breathe, and to clear the air and stress from our lives from time to time so we can come back refreshed to tackle whatever life has in store for us.