Naturally Content Marcus S. McCue

The crisp fall breeze swirls through the trees, and with each gust an increasing number of leaves detach themselves from the tree where they once lived. Upon reaching the ground the leaves form a colorful mosaic of reds, oranges, and yellows, almost as if they were meant to be placed that way. With each step their presence is apparent as they crinkle softly beneath my feet, making it difficult to hear anything else. Nature's sounds are masked by the regular chatter of leaves as I amble through the woods.

I pause for a moment and rest my weight on a young maple tree, enjoying what nature has to offer, taking a moment to listen and observe. Almost instantly I notice the rustling of leaves; directly to my right a squirrel is bounding between trees (making a seemingly impossible amount of noise for its size) before it retreats again to the safety of the nearest oak. I hear birds chirping in the distance, the soft soothing whistle of chickadees, a species which resides in Maine throughout the winter. Photoperiodism has caused migratory birds to begin flying South but our residential species remain faithfully with us preparing for the inevitably cold and snowy winter. I observe as a group of chickadees glide into the trees that...