Listening to the rhythm of nature

Fog settles on the hills by Lake Pinneo in Quechee, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

At my desk this afternoon, I had a constant companion: the raindrops, and the art they made. Their steady tapping on the skylight created the most gentle rhythm, leaving little circles of water on the window for a half-second. They landed, and down they went — the effect of perfect music. 

Naturally, they inspired me to play a few songs on my guitar, including a favorite of mine from Jakob Dylan, “Something Good This Way Comes”. As I played along, nature provided its calm, steady percussion. I added my sound to its sound, and on a rainy afternoon, the day got a little brighter. Like Dylan says, “This kind of day has no night.” 

The best part is, this inspiration doesn’t need long to settle in — it only needs us to have an open mind, and pay attention. When the day seems dark, gray and gloomy, there are reflections all around us of nature holding guard and setting the tone. We’re all included in that harmony, and each of us has the opportunity to reflect it a little more, moment by moment. Ever-present good is there to guide us, and we decide how much night enters into our day. Every honest step in a positive direction welcomes more light into our experience — it helps us see that goodness in the world. That’s true progress, and our constant opportunity to thrive.

— Gareth Henderson

Renewal during life’s journey

A sunlit, autumn view on national park land in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Each life is unique, and each view of the outside world marks its own path through its unique perspective. Along life’s journey, one of the greatest joys is the role that nature plays. If it isn’t changing our thought, it at least refreshes our thinking, and perhaps makes us take a healthy step back from the rumblings of daily routines. 

A recent walk along a beautiful, foliage-filled path in the woods was such an experience. My wife and I had started out in Woodstock Village, but instead of heading through downtown, we went up past the River Street cemetery and enjoyed a trail that’s part of the national park system. Fallen leaves were everywhere, leaving us with a feeling of being nestled in nature; the sun completed the picture by painting the trees with its rays, illuminating a patchwork of oranges, yellows and greens. The soft, precious glow of late-afternoon sunlight was all around and profoundly inspiring. It reminded me of foliage walks with my family as a child, when I saw that same glow lighting on tree branches. Some leaves would capture more light than others, accentuating the scene’s innate beauty by this natural contrast. 

It made me wonder at how often this incredible display of nature had inspired others, and at how many people had walked this same path, to look at this new-old, dazzling scene with fresh eyes. A few uphills and downhills took us gradually closer to the trail leading back to Faulkner Park in the village, and all the while autumn’s splendor was a constant presence. Each new turn, each new scene, offered a fresh perspective on a beautiful season we return to every year. Many scenes in life can feel repetitive, every day provides an opportunity to take a new path, think new thoughts, or at least throw a new element into an old routine. 

Our life experience isn’t made to be tired, or cloaked in same-ness; it’s made to be refreshed. Those moments of renewal, of profound learning and insight, shine that steadfast light of goodness and progress onto life’s journey. In that light there’s a sense of openness, which sometimes unveils paths we never considered, but may be right for a particular moment. Like sunlight, goodness is familiar, and it always has a calming effect. Its gentle glow is never far from anyone, and we all share a natural connection with the good that sustains life, welcomes progress and instills peace.

— Gareth Henderson

Embracing a higher view

Just after sunset along Cabot Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Few images in nature are more inspiring than a hawk gracefully soaring above the landscape, viewing the world from a unique perspective. This creature moves among the windy blasts of any season, able to accelerate and rise higher at a moment’s notice. 

For a few moments this afternoon, I observed this beautiful animal, maneuvering its way through the sky. It seemed so certain of its course, and when headwinds arose, it had the ability to confidently rise above them. 

This image of grace and confidence is a welcome sight, and a reminder of the importance of these qualities amid difficult times. Indeed, there are still obstacles that challenge our best qualities every day. Economic woes, the pandemic, political confrontations, and supply-chain issues are just the short list of challenges society now faces. And it’s true, these all test our ability to persevere and feel a sense of hope for the days ahead. It may not be too surprising that, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Oct. 8, just one-third of Americans have a positive outlook on the nation’s future. 

Today, it so often seems that any attempts at progress as a country face immediate obstacles, and efforts to change things for the better can feel futile. That’s when thought, like the hawk, has to rise above its surroundings, and a big part of the solution can be the simple things. They include seeking positive interactions with others, helping a neighbor, or just encouraging someone who’s feeling down. Those experiences automatically uplift our thought. It’s a bit like coming home, because living amid goodness, and returning to it for support, is really a natural state of existence for us. There’s no doubt that massive challenges exist in this world, but knowing there’s a sense of peace we can access is reassuring and provides comfort. It’s an experience that’s readily available to help us soar and rise above contrary winds — high enough to see progress as truly possible.

— Gareth Henderson

A land of great connections

The historic marker for renowned poet Robert Frost along Route 125 in Ripton, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont is a small state, but with a certain greatness to offer. That quality shows up many times in moments of natural grandeur, captured in a photo or video, and other times it has to do with great talents choosing to grace these mountains and valleys. 

Driving back home from a visit to Middlebury, Vermont, today, we passed through Ripton where world-famous poet Robert Frost spent the summer and fall from 1939 until his death in 1963. His writing cabin, a National Historic Landmark, is on a 150-acre farm nestled in the scenic Green Mountains off Route 125. Over the years, he often shared his expertise with the students at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English and its Writers’ Conference. What an experience that must have been for those young writers. 

Along Route 125, we stopped to take the above photo of the historic marker honoring Frost and his longtime connection to Vermont. The marker quotes the former Vermont Poet Laureate: 

Breathes there a bard who isn’t moved

When he finds his verse is understood

And not entirely disapproved

By his Country and his Neighborhood!

Reading Frost’s own words, and seeing his name honored there, I could not help but think that spot was the perfect place for this recognition. He lived here and shared his craft with aspiring writers, of course, but at the same time, these mountains assuredly brought some comfort and ease to his work. The Green Mountains, by their very presence, embrace the mind and paint natural scenes which give solace to thought and inspiration to the thinker. Looking out my window to see sunlit trees and a gentle blue Vermont sky, this expression of grace is like fresh water to grow new ideas, and this landscape remains an inspiration for artists of all kinds.

Indeed, when seeing Robert Frost’s name Saturday afternoon, and the trees towering behind the site, it represented the perfect combination of a beautiful landscape and a writer very much at home within it. That’s a familiar feeling for me, and it’s a joy to share the abundant inspiration gleaned from the wide world of nature. Like life itself, nature is always beaming with renewal and hope, whether the skies are cloudy or sunny. It’s a world always ready to inspire, and that goodness doesn’t diminish — it’s alive, and it’s here to uplift us all.

— Gareth Henderson

Gratitude: A daily gift

A forest illuminated along River Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Autumn officially arrives Wednesday, and we've all been experiencing the cooler nights, the falling leaves, the later sunsets — all harbingers of a new season dawning.

As those familiar signs build upon one another, the relative peace in nature offers a striking difference against the news we see and hear every day, as it often does. From economic peril and racial divides, to political tensions and food insecurity, there can seem to be little hope on the horizon for the world to overcome obstacles, make progress, and succeed together. The news cycle often feels like a washing machine with a broken off-switch.

The constant barrage of these ideas can quickly feel overwhelming, crushing out the reality that we still have access to hope, love and harmony. But it is important to look for that sliver of light every day, and strive to see it. That light illustrates the ever-present goodness that fuels each of us to do better. Every day, at the center of that light, is an opportunity to give gratitude for what each of us has, instead of longing for what another has, or comparing material possessions. Though we may not realize it, that comparison-mode can give root to negative thinking — even divisive thoughts.

Each day, I give gratitude for where I live, the love and safety of my community, my health, and for each day that the sun rises and sets. This brings to mind a line from the famous Ernest Hemingway novel, "The Sun Also Rises" — “Don't you ever get the feeling that all your life is going by and you're not taking advantage of it?"

Giving gratitude helps ground your day in goodness instead of lack, in harmony instead of tension, and it never stops letting in the light. When that news-cycle washing machine revs up and it feels like too much, we can always mentally look up and know we have a way to be grateful and spread goodness — even when life is sending constant challenges. And we can inspire others to do the same, making gratitude a daily gift, from us, to the world.

— Gareth Henderson

A changed world, and the good that remains

The American and Vermont flags outside the town offices in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Weary-eyed but wide awake with excitement, my flight landed in Lima, Peru, around 3 a.m. I was about to join my travel group from Principia College for an abroad program for my Spanish major — my first journey to a non-English speaking country. But as we embarked on that experience, we didn’t know how the world was about to change.

As several friends and I went down to breakfast in our hotel the next morning on Sept. 11, 2001, we saw the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on TV, with massive columns of smoke rising from them. I wondered if I was watching a movie clip, but I soon learned the tragic reality.

From the newsroom in the Christian Science Monitor in Boston minutes before, my dad, a longtime journalist, saw the second plane strike on the TV screen. He and multiple friends called my mom that morning to make sure I’d made it out, which we all had. My trip leaders made sure we emailed our parents to convey that news.

A world away from Ground Zero, I was able to find comfort and solace as we went about our first day in Lima. Back home in the U.S., nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, including at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and on United Flight 93. Many more confronted the rawness of the aftermath. A fellow Vermonter, Stuart Crawford Hult, from Williston, was a vice president for a Credit Suisse First Boston at 5 World Trade Center, and was on site that morning. After the first plane hit the building, he sprinted through the office, screaming for everyone to get out. Once his colleagues were on their way to safety, Hult made his escape down the stairwell before the second plane hit the next tower. Later, he discovered that everyone who’d been on duty at the firehouse near his office, Fire Department Rescue Company 1, had died that day. He now sends a wreath of remembrance to the station every year.

I heard Hult's story for the first time this past week, when I stopped to listen to part of Vermont Public Radio’s tremendous project, "20 Years Later: Vermonters Remember Sept. 11". It was such a profound listening experience, and a visceral reminder of how that morning altered the lives of so many. How important it is, to remember these individual experiences and honor their meaning.

Collectively, these stories still touch our hearts, and uniquely so. Indeed, 9/11 brought the country together, even if briefly. Today, the ability to embrace one another as a country seems quite distant, and just as susceptible to political turmoil and disagreement. However, I trust that somewhere within the fabric of our nation, there is a more expansive desire for genuine unity and genuine progress. They can co-exist, because in our recent struggles, we’ve shown we can still lift each other up in times of need.

This feels like a different nation than the one that saw the 9/11 attacks. Today, political and societal tensions are more ubiquitous, more shared through social media and iPhones, and the partisanship is more rife on the surface. Divisiveness would make us believe we don’t need one another quite as much, that perhaps we could persist in separateness. But in reality the opposite is true — we do need each other, in order to be truly successful as a nation and overcome our challenges. Every day provides another opportunity to show the love and care that remains in our national community, by looking out for one another despite our differences. Twenty years after 9/11, we can prove the good that touched us in the aftermath of 9/11 is not fleeting, and still remains foundational in the soul of our nation.

— Gareth Henderson

The power of brilliant moments

A scene along River Road in Woodstock, Vt., on Monday afternoon. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The late afternoon sun is setting a bit earlier these days, reminding me that the first sparkle of light on a sunny day is a precious moment. Many of us miss that first glimmer of brilliance, edging its way over the hills until subtlety gives way to splendor. 

That last part, the splendor filling the sky, is what we remember most. But the entire display begins with one ray of light, leading to many. That single ray is powerful enough to illuminate any point of darkness, because it’s never separate from the greater light source. 

Stunning, ever-present illumination filled the Ottauquechee River corridor on Monday afternoon, as my wife and I walked the dog along River Road in Woodstock. I felt life coursing through the landscape, from the squirrel scampering up a tree, and the birds soaring over the water, to runner and cyclists enjoying same stretch of road. Plants glimmered in the sun, even in the forest shadows along the road, catching what light they could. We felt the gentle breeze passing by as it moved the plants and tree branches nearby. Reaching a stone wall, the view opened up to a wider scene with the river and surrounding landscape, seamlessly existing together, seasoned partners through decades of changes. 

Indeed, though change comes and goes, there still are many expressions of good in the world, like the progress of a river current, or the strength of roots underground giving life a firm foundation. Some of those expressions are seen, others unseen. Some deeds receive public reward, while others quietly move forward outside of the spotlight. We may not always see goodness in its most conspicuous forms, but it is still powerful, persistent, and existing among us. Even its smallest expressions carry profound meaning, though they may struggle sometimes to be noticed. Whatever is happening today, we should remember that even the faintest glimmers of light can grow, top the dark hills, and fill the sky of tomorrow.

— Gareth Henderson

Sharing a new tomorrow

A brook at the Green Mountain Horse Association in South Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

One of the gifts of writing is that it’s elastic, broad, expansive. It can capture things that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes, those things enter into the written word by way of the camera lens. 

When we were walking late in the day on Saturday, on the grounds of the Green Mountain Horse Association in beautiful South Woodstock, we crossed a small bridge with a quiet brook running underneath it. Unassuming and serene, the sound of the bubbling water came to my ear, and then the sunlight dancing on the surface amid the shadows caught my eye. The camera lens wasn’t far behind. 

That quiet moment came on a busy holiday weekend. GMHA’s historic 100-Mile Competitive Trail Ride was back in town, bringing equestrians and spectators from near and far. On Friday night, tackle football returned to Woodstock Union High School, where WUHS notched a big 35-16 win over Springfield. Also returning to the area this weekend is the Quechee Balloon Festival, with entertainment for all ages. On a yet larger scale: The school year began this past week for the Woodstock area and many other districts, with Vermont students able to see their teachers and each other once again, five days a week. 

Taken together, these events and many others mark a return to familiar ground, more progress toward more normalcy. Though the pandemic and numerous other issues present challenges, the opportunity to visit loved ones more often, see our kids return to school, and enjoy the events and activities we missed for so many months, does have a powerful impact. Being out and about gives you another lens through which to process the changes of life and come to terms with its challenges and further opportunities for progress. And you understand more fully that others are having this experience as well; we are one world going through this next chapter of existence, together. 

That said, “together” doesn’t always feel comfortable. We’ll encounter obstacles as the world grows into a new future, and people will confront the tough questions about what we’ve really learned from the past 18 months. But right now, we are building from moments, quiet moments of reflection, whether it’s walking past a bubbling brook, or spending time catching up with family or friends. Those times let the light of good pour in and illuminate our experiences every day. They give us opportunities to ponder concepts bigger than ourselves, and be aware of issues that merit more of our attention. If we approach life, right now, with a more expansive, compassionate thought, that’s fertile ground where lasting progress can take root. And that’s the way to nurture and care for this vast, precious world we all share.

— Gareth Henderson

The omnipresence of music

A field along Route 106 in Weathersfield, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Music is like the abundant goodness in the world: It’s all around and inspires us when we least expect it.

That musical magic came to my virtual doorstep on Thursday afternoon, in the form of a Jakob Dylan song I hadn’t heard before. I’ve been a fan since his famous days as the frontman for The Wallflowers in the 1990s, when a slew of their songs like “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache” topped the charts. Great songwriting was already in the family, thanks to his dad Bob Dylan, but Jakob also followed his own path — ending up with some real gems during his post-band solo career. 

One of them was “Something Good This Way Comes”, which Jakob wrote in 2008. Perhaps like many who were in high school in Jakob Dylan’s chart-topping days, I lost track of him after the 90s. So, it was a treat to discover this song, with its mellow, laid-back melody and positive message. I was grateful to hear it, as we near the end of a very newsy week which has brought its share of political rumblings and related fears. A simple tune can bring us back to center, and shine a welcome light on the good in this world, giving us hope to face what lies ahead. 

That light, however, is part of a much bigger picture; it’s greater than just a fleeting feeling. When we receive that gentle, calming inspiration from a great piece of art, whatever its form, it’s really part of an ecosystem of reminders telling us about the best parts of life. Like continuous radio signals bringing songs to us, they are everywhere, and always at work. Even when the radio is off, those same ideas are all around us as we look inward and embrace that ever-present goodness and love. They drive progress, and, as we remain open to such moments, they touch the heart with that light of good, and its sweet permanence. As the younger Dylan’s song says, “This kind of day has no night.”

— Gareth Henderson

The steady move into summer, like a river

The Ottauquechee River, as seen from River Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In this year of progress, the seasons have come and gone at a rapid pace. But come and go they must — on Sunday, the first day of summer arrives. Life marches on, sustained by that profound, natural momentum we all can feel.

The transition from spring to summer is, indeed, the least pronounced of the seasonal changes. Though beautiful and always much-anticipated, the differences between fall, winter and spring are decidedly more stark.

But when it comes to human activity, like traveling and traffic, you see the change more clearly, especially with summer holidays coming up and people heading for outdoor adventures. While running some errands on Friday, I went down River Road by the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, and saw a number of people walking and biking. The most noticeable change, though, was seeing a couple of groups enjoy the rope swing into the river. That's an activity I shared with family on a regular basis, while growing up in the area. That one observation showed me that, those favorite pastimes with friends and family don't disappear, they come back — just like the blooming flowers and vegetation we've seen all around us in recent weeks and months. That's part of that momentum, like a steady river current urging us toward progress, as the warm season advances and the post-pandemic era approaches.

Indeed, all these changes track with natural progress, a collective opportunity that can't be taken away from us. Sometimes, it seems hidden for a while, like the sun behind a group of foreboding clouds. But progress, goodness, love, compassion — they still abide there, cultivated in their abundance, and quietly doing their work as we press onward. Over time, these qualities gently urge us to learn from each other and grow as a result, sometimes against great headwinds.

At those times of struggle, when the path is steeper, it's most important to claim our innate goodness and trust it to guide us forward, knowing others will recognize it and correspond to it. As seasons grow and change, and new challenges come about, sharing the good we have is the path toward continued progress. It shows us, and teaches us, that light is always there.

— Gareth Henderson

Honoring the ultimate sacrifice

Members of the Ora E. Paul American Legion Post No. 24 march through Woodstock, Vt., on Saturday in the annual Memorial Day Parade. (Susan Ford Photo)

As numerous Memorial Day traditions returned across the state and nation, this Memorial Day brought a unique spotlight on the perseverance and courage of the country.

This nation has confronted the grave challenges of war in the past, and each time, courageous men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice. And it's up to us to honor and remember how they bravely fought to ensure our freedom.

As we now emerge from the pandemic, it's a special time to remember what the U.S. can achieve when presenting a united front against a common challenge. Today, we honor when Americans have stepped forward in defense of liberty, with a willingness to sacrifice all for the common good. We remember how the bravery of so many has shaped our country, and what it teaches us today.

On Monday, Gov. Phil Scott honored the many times Vermonters have taken part in those sacrifices.

“Since the birth of our nation, thousands of Vermonters have answered the call. They don’t do it for the glory or fame, they do it for our country and all of us," Scott said in a statement. "Their dedication often puts them in harm’s way and has, unfortunately, cost too many their lives. This is why we can never let their sacrifices be in vain."

Moving forward from this life-changing time in our nation, it's incumbent upon each of us to honor this long-standing spirit of sacrifice, and play a role in improving the country they fought to protect. This includes so much more than individual freedom. This includes preserving freedom for all, and ensuring that liberty is equally shared in the experiences of all Americans. Our fallen soldiers, in their great courage, fought to uphold and sustain that very freedom. Now, the work must continue, and we forge ahead with that goal in our mind and hearts.

As Gov. Scott said, “We must always strive to uphold the values of the nation they fought to preserve and work to build a more perfect union in their honor."

— Gareth Henderson

An encouraging summer

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

With the sun shining beautifully, and the early-morning air just right, I recently went on my first run of the season. It was a brief jog, up a road near my home, and I could feel the air getting ready to warm up. Just like summer itself.

This warm season is surging ahead, like it always has, but this summer momentum is different: It's giving us something new to cheer for, after the struggles of 2020. And every day shows us more of what's to come. We know travel is picking up, and people are looking to spend much of their time outdoors. People are out running, zipping by on their bicycles, enjoying the tennis court, or maybe visiting lakes and ponds to fish. Parks are a big attraction as well.

In Woodstock, Vermont, numerous people have been visiting the trails of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in recent days, including a number of families.

"At the National Park we continue to see an increase above our seasonal norms in the number of community members and visitors taking advantage of the park’s 20 miles of carriage roads and trails," said Christina Marts, the park's acting superintendent. "This builds on the trend we were seeing at the height of last summer when a beautiful weekend day could inspire over 700 walkers and hikers to hit the trail."

We all remember that summer, when time spent in any outdoor expanse was a true gift, with a profound impact. With that in mind, perhaps the outdoors will feel even more like a place of refuge in summer 2021, where we can find even greater peace — this time amid new progress. Memorable views like seeing Woodstock from the top of Mount Tom, or hiking up to the Pogue, might carry some special meaning for all of us this year. These scenes are still here to brighten our days, to remain nestled in the constant beauty of nature, never departing, always inspiring.

With Memorial Day Weekend — the unofficial start of summer — right around the corner, more people will head to the Green Mountains to experience our natural surroundings, and how good they are for the soul. Those early sunrises and late sunsets complete the picture of progress we've waited for. Summer is always moving, always evolving. And in 2021, it invites us to cheer it on, renew our joy in it, and share that happiness with others. There's no better way to celebrate this new season.

— Gareth Henderson

A broader view of life

A flower in bloom on the Woodstock History Center’s lawn. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

There’s a certain freedom in wandering new trails and old roads in the area, searching for fresh, new images to capture with the camera. The weather is warming up, with sunlight streaming through the trees and hills, and the occasional rain blessing the landscape. While the buds on the trees are sprouting their leaves, some of the most compelling views are on the ground, right by our feet.

That was true of tonight's featured photo, showing an elegant flower with hints of purple, soaking in hints of light on a dreary afternoon last Saturday. Its home is the Woodstock History Center's lawn, a favorite spot of mine. It's an ideal place for a quiet stroll, to take in the view of the Ottauquechee River flowing by.

Seeing nature from a broader viewpoint has great value, but so does noticing those smaller, more subtle instances of life which also make a compelling picture. That awareness requires a willingness to slow down and engage with the varied life experiences right near us, grounded in the firm foundation of life. Doing this, I’ve noticed things I might have very easily ignored or taken for granted in the past, like the subject of the photo above. That little flower, with its elegant simplicity, is a humble representative of beauty, peace, and progress. It's a reminder that, as I eagerly search for those qualities, they're abundantly being expressed all around me.

As 2021 continues to bloom, and the activities and routines we've been missing become possible once again, we can have the presence of mind to proceed with a broader view. We can remember — and engage with — the seemingly "smaller" aspects of life that bring us joy, changeless good, and meaningful peace. Those qualities have value far beyond the workings of daily life, and it’s natural for us to share that goodness with others. As we proceed through the week, that is surely the greatest gift we can offer the world.

— Gareth Henderson

Embracing progress, like the river

The Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Progress for the greater good is a concept we all embrace. It's the very engine of life. There’s always a push to go up higher, to achieve more, and persist through challenges to seek opportunity.

For some time now, the gradual lifting of statewide restrictions has given us hope as we make further progress toward the eventual end of the pandemic. The idea of striving to help one another has continued, as activities slowly but surely return to some semblance of day-to-day normalcy.

We're each glad to note how things are improving during these weeks, and it's been a steady source of inspiration. Saturday night was the first night I have been out to see live music in a restaurant in almost 16 months. The band, George’s Back Pocket, performed at Du Jour VT in Ludlow, and played its inspiring song “The River”, which reminded me of the serene, powerful nature of this grand waterway. 

A river is winding, turning, in constant movement, always refreshing itself. Each drop of water, sometimes propelled by harsh currents, moves forward to a new destination. Similarly, we can never go back to a particular moment, nor remain “stuck” in the trappings of tomorrow, but we must be grounded in the present, and humbly move ahead with the progress experienced. Such moments show us that obstacles aren’t forever. Indeed, the most reassuring knowledge is that we’re constantly moving forward, with the innate ability to embrace the ideas we need. This broader view sustains our wholeness and completeness, as we look toward this bright tomorrow.

That bright tomorrow contains much newness, because we've learned a lot over the past 12 months. The pandemic has shown me how technology can connect us, how much we can lift each other up when times are tough, and how work life can be more efficient — just to name a few things. As the situation continues to improve, we can strive to move forward with these lessons learned and use them to propel progress.

That process won't always be easy. Sometimes, new knowledge seems to come into conflict with older methods, and the road ahead becomes unclear. But whatever the issue at hand, we always have the ability to work together toward the opportunities that make the most sense for all involved. That riverbed may become disturbed by progress itself, but the water has the innate ability to seek and find clarity, a purer sense of purpose and resolve. With that focus in mind, we can strive to rise together into a better future for all. From seeming obstacles, opportunities can come that strengthen every community and cultivate strong collaborations. Together, we can continue to embrace progress, persist, and succeed.

— Gareth Henderson

Helping the environment, one life at a time

The Ottauquechee River, as seen from East End Park in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Around the world, 129 billion single-use face masks are used each month, and 3 million are thrown out every minute. They’ve entangled wildlife and polluted waterways, and some marine animals have eaten them. 

That situation might look too big for any of us to make a positive impact. But we can each do something to minimize the damage of this pandemic-specific waste, if we ever have to dispose of a single-use mask. In short, when you throw one out, cut or remove the straps — which makes it harder for animals to be strangled in them. By doing so, you can make a difference, noted Maria Algarra, founder of Clean This Beach Up, an environmental organization in Miami Beach, Florida.

“The idea is to dispose of your mask properly, put it in the bin, but also remember to cut or rip off the straps. That will be saving so many lives,” Algarra said in a PBS NewsHour segment, which aired on Earth Day last week. 

Part of the issue is that, how to properly dispose of something is not a top priority for many people, according to Jenna Jambeck, of the University of Georgia. For example, someone who goes shopping with a single-use mask and gloves, may not know how they’re going to throw them out after their errand is done. That gap has a big impact on the environment over the past year. 

“It just really came to light, I think, through the PPE that we were wearing,” Jambeck told the NewsHour. 

That culture of waste is especially worrisome, when you combine it with a number like 129 billion of those single-use masks being used and discarded each month. However, that means, as a global community, we have billions of opportunities to do what’s right. If we ever have the need to pick up a single-use mask, we can know that cutting those straps before throwing them out can have a true, positive impact on the world’s precious creatures.

Furthermore, we can know we’re very much not alone in caring about such issues. Maria Algarra and Jenna Jambeck, from the PBS NewsHour piece, are involved in constant efforts to clean up and benefit the environment, and there are many more people working to protect our natural surroundings and the animals that depend on them. We support those initiatives when we engage in loving, thoughtful treatment of the world around us, and take steps to reduce harmful human impacts on wildlife. We can truly make a difference, one life at a time. 

— Gareth Henderson

New development for Omni Reporter

Middle Bridge in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Milestones are markers of triumph, struggle, and ultimately success, and the important thing is where they lead you. 

It brought me gratitude to see Omni Reporter complete its first year of existence last month, and it provided a time to look back, and look forward. After over 12 months of being writer, editor and publisher of this grand venture, I’m humbled by all of you. This news site came from meek beginnings and has grown into a strong growing tree with deepening roots and branches stretching upward with each new idea. This is a reader-supported endeavor, and every contribution brought this publication closer to the successful completion of year 1.

My goal for this year is to find the right balance in Omni’s structure, to make the operation manageable, and most importantly, continue to produce the quality content readers expect. With that goal in mind, as of Sunday, May 2, Omni Reporter will switch to a 5-day publication cycle. That means daily articles will be published Tuesday-Saturday, reserving Sunday and Mondays as days to work on interviews, research, story development, and content planning. Under this new cycle, the work done on these two non-publication days will supply a strong and consistent foundation for high-quality stories by Omni Reporter.

Additionally, we all know breaking news will happen, and when it does, Omni will still be ready to write about it, including on Sunday and Monday. That kind of flexibility and awareness is key for any organization covering the news.

I’m looking forward to the rest of 2021 with new perspective and energy. Keeping great content as our topmost priority, we pave the way for further improvement and success. Omni Reporter has been able to “find the daily good”, tell interesting stories, and deliver some breaking news to readers as well — proudly within the structure of a 7-day cycle since last March. I am excited to see where Omni Reporter will go and how it will bring a breath of humanity for year 2.

As we move toward the launch of this 5-day approach, I want to give a huge thanks to all of you for supporting Omni Reporter in its inaugural year, and continuing to support Omni in year 2. This is reader-supported journalism, and all contributions are critical to keeping Omni operations going. 

A variety of vibrant content is in the works for May, including profiles and dynamic stories. The goal is to provide news and insights with an uplifting approach that encourages progress, while also supplying those key news details that are important to know. It’s been a true joy to see our community of readers around the world grow, and I’m very much looking forward to what the rest of 2021 brings. Each step along the way, the most fulfilling part of this journey is experiencing it together, and I deeply appreciate your partnership. Here’s to a great rest of the year. 

— Gareth Henderson

Looking at the world in new ways

The Kedron Brook in South Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Stepping out into nature, you never know what the environment will have waiting for you, but that unpredictability is the fruit of the outdoors. It's the best part of the canvas that Mother Nature so richly paints.

For me, each time I venture out with my camera, it challenges me to look at the world around me in a new way. Each composition gives me a different view on common imagery, whether it is a stream of light, a babbling brook, or a row of buildings. I am looking to tell a story and let the light shine through and illuminate an idea, even when it seems tougher to find something with a fresh angle.

Vermont's landscape provides ample opportunity to photograph some beautiful waterways. It took me a few tries, but this photo of the Kedron Brook, shown above, reminded me of a series of steps graced by the flowing water. It portrays a calm, peaceful image of progress, of putting one foot in front of the other, with grace.

Even on a darker, cloudy day, if I head out with an open mind and a willing heart, I’m able to find a new idea out in nature, even in areas I’ve photographed before. That’s an apt metaphor for life. If you have a situation that seems impossible, you just have to look to see where there’s a little bit of light popping in, and usually that can lead you forward and illuminate the path toward a solution. Instead of trying to force a certain outcome, we can be open to finding that light, which is there to inspire us. Through challenges, we can find the good, even on the darkest of days.

— Gareth Henderson

Redemption: a path of constant progress

The Kedron Brook flows through South Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The onset of spring always inspires. Those first few buds out of the ground, the symphonies of birds with their musical movements working together as one — it’s a transformation we all welcome.

This year, this season of change is especially poignant, because it naturally represents the transformation our world is attempting. It’s the embodiment of that transition from a cold, more stark season, to a more hopeful one. That’s what makes the spirit of Easter so fitting for this time of year: that idea of dispensing with the old, to embrace the new. More specifically, it’s that redemption of a former self, for a better reflection of who we truly are.

After a few moments of reflection, we may well feel an eagerness to quickly move on from the main challenges of the past year — namely the pandemic, political strife, racial tensions and a cratering economy. But looking forward, it’s worth reflecting on what those challenges revealed to us. From my humble view, it revealed that a number of old constructs, old assumptions about each other, and old limits on ourselves, were impeding progress and needed to come to the surface for resolution.

At the same time, those challenges also revealed the solution: the best version of us. Our own nurturing, caring, and selfless giving had to be lifted up for all to see, and it was, through countless examples of support to our neighbors here and around the globe. The sunlight of that collective truth warmed our hearts and souls, and shared the fruit of selflessness when we needed it most. You might say, our real strength and courage as mankind was proven. It no longer requires proof, but instead, it needs constant work, patience, and steadfastness to cultivate that strength through love and compassion. Spring is the start of gardening season, where we tend our plots and start our seeds. Those gardens start from meek beginnings, but the same love and compassion we bestow on them, can be used to tend the gardens of our souls and sustain us. These are innate traits we all have, and with them, we have a grand opportunity to make progress and overcome barriers, for the good of all.

But the path is long and winding. Redemption is not the work of a moment; it requires constant effort and focus on the path that leads to the best version of ourselves. Like the springtime, the need for redemption regularly returns within this journey of life, always challenging us to go up higher. As we seek higher ground, we are returning to a place that’s natural to us, because our best qualities are always within us, waiting to be expressed. They hold the key to the best solutions to our most daunting problems, and each step toward a more loving awareness of the world, is another way to show that redemption is possible. That’s the most precious inspiration we can give as a society.

— Gareth Henderson

That musical touch

White, gray and blue grace the sky in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Light, love, harmony, reassurance and, most of all, hope. These form the substance of what we feel when great music sweeps us up in its settling influence, especially when we need to be uplifted. Sometimes, music brings us inspiration when we don’t realize we need it, and it fills up part of our soul.

For me, that unexpected gift appeared when I heard Claude Debussy’s “Clair de lune” on Friday night, for the first time in years. Its soothing, peaceful tones were just the right way to end a long week, and to be more specific, they were also the perfect inspiration for finishing up that night’s post. Though there was no correlation between the music and the words I actually wrote, that musical masterpiece had a calming influence. It helped move me from a space of over-thinking what I was doing, to settling my thought and focusing more on the information I really needed. 

It’s difficult to put a fine point on how music makes us feel, because it’s so profound it often defies definition. Sometimes it spurs us to take some needed action, other times it simply clears the clouds from the sky of our day when we need it most. But we recognize its impact, every time. 

The arrival of that spontaneous inspiration is always a special moment, one that was particularly needed over the past year, when so many were looking for peace. Given that, perhaps we take the positive impact of music a little less for granted now. Its light has shone brightly in recent months and provided a meaningful way to not only feel a stronger sense of calm, but also connect with others in search of it. We’ll always have a need for connection, and music is a powerful way to do just that, being a strong expression of what creativity can accomplish.

Whether old or new, musical creations are a constant gift, and they point to a landscape that’s always evolving and ready for more exploration. The beauty of it is, you never know what will inspire you next. And when we gain that inspiration, we have the opportunity to share it with others who may be in need of its harmony. By doing that, we enhance the pattern of creative continuity and fulfillment we can all access. That’s a true gift.

— Gareth Henderson

Omni Reporter reaches the one-year mark

Several “We got this Vermont” signs were displayed in Woodstock, Vermont, in March 2020. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

"The natural tendency we have to help one another has not been overtaken."

That's one of the great triumphs of the past year, and a recognition of the strength of the human spirit. It was also part of my first post, a year ago, on Omni Reporter. 

Since March 27, 2020, the support for this venture has only grown, and I am filled with gratitude for all of you. Providing you with news and insights throughout the week is something I cherish, and the way you’ve supported these efforts inspires me daily. Thank you for all your generous contributions which help keep the website going by covering key costs of the operation. That support is foundational to the success of Omni Reporter. Over the past year, I have written more than 365 posts averaging one a day, or sometimes more based on breaking news. Omni has a worldwide audience reaching 53 countries. We are grateful to see the important source of information the website has become. It started from the seed of an idea planted in goodness and has flourished, anchored in a strong foundation.    

A crucial part of that progress is receiving your suggestions and ideas, and I always appreciate them. We’re constantly reflecting on how to improve the news-gathering process and thereby strengthen the content. Every step forward provides the opportunity for improvement.

The idea for Omni Reporter came from a desire to provide important news and vital information at a historic time when so much was changing quickly. It remains an honor to bring you this information and, through my editorial writing, share some thoughts with you about it. I take each article as a new opportunity to provide information while also providing it in an uplifting, constructive manner which serves to advance progress. 

That first article last March, "Together", spoke, in part, about how the desire to be good and relate to one another is still alive and well. Indeed, even the most simple, positive interaction can mean the world to someone. The concept of the indomitable good in people has been a pattern weaved throughout many of my daily writings, and to see that concept in action in my local community over the past year, especially, has given me great inspiration to move forward. 

That’s just what Vermont appears to be doing: moving forward. Planning for recovery efforts is underway throughout the state and the country. We’re putting our best foot forward, as we’ve done throughout the prior year, and we remain ready to help each other along the way. I can’t wait to see how that virtue finds further expression in 2021 — and write about it, too. With year number-two of Omni Reporter about to begin, I thank each of you and look forward to continuing this journey together.

— Gareth Henderson