Originally published in medium.com on September 25, 2020
The intensity of 2020 inspired me to share some magic. And kindness. And nature.
It was a tough day. A tough week. My God, it’s been a tough year.
And then Bozeman’s Random Acts of Silliness & the Gallatin Valley Land Trust created this beautiful fairy house tour on a local trail.
Flutterby Thicket, Project of GVLT & Random Acts of Silliness. Photo Credit: Heather White
The delight of the kids, the care and creativity of the artists who curated this experience, and the beauty of the outdoors lifted my spirits.
Magical Fairy House Created by GVLT & Random Acts of Silliness. Photo Credit: Heather White
I got choked up.
I thought about Rachel Carson’s book “A Sense of Wonder” and was filled with gratitude for this special community.
Carson said:
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
These little fairy houses tucked away near the local stream brought me back to the moment.
Fairy House in Bozeman, MT. Photo Credit: Heather White
I even smiled and held my teen daughter’s hand for a brief, fleeting second.
And for the first time in a long while, I felt hope.
Heather White is a nationally-recognized sustainability leader and nonprofit executive, expert on conservation law and policy, and eco-anxiety. She is the President & CEO of Heather White Strategies, LLC and former CEO of Yellowstone Forever, past Executive Director of EWG and Senate staffer. She lives and writes in Bozeman, Montana.