Get Up and Go!
“As I went walking that ribbon of highway
I saw above me that endless skyway
And saw below me that golden valley
This land was made for you and me”
~ Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson Guthrie, born in 1912, is considered one of America’s greatest and most influential songwriters of the twentieth century. The above quote comes from one of his most famous songs, “This Land” which most of us know as, “This Land Was Made for You and Me.” Although the song was originally a song of protest, the lyrics do give a general feel of the grand beauty of our nation and the importance of the land being there for all of us as a people for generations to come. Recently, I have had the undeniable pleasure of driving across the northern part of our beautiful country and my thoughts of Woody and his lyrics came to mind. With so much natural beauty to see and wonderful people to meet, I wanted to write to urge you to take that plunge and get up and go and take a chance on traveling to new places and discovering new lands. I confess that I must have crossed off at least half a dozen things on my personal bucket list of things to do and see in my lifetime.
The importance of travel can not be overstated. Most people travel for pleasure such as a vacation or to visit friends or family. Other people travel for work or to start a new chapter in their personal life story. What ever the motivation, get up and go…I have traveled for all the above reasons, for fun, for visiting loved ones as well as for work and starting over. In each case there is a magical opportunity to learn. Learning takes place whenever we set our previous notions and prejudices aside and open our minds to new experiences…and this is why travel is so important for personal growth. Travel allows us opportunities that are hard to gain from a magazine article or a book. Yes, reading gives our minds a magic carpet to travel the world and see places that we might never have a chance to otherwise visit but there is never a substitute for getting your feet dirty and walking the walk to places that capture the imagination and to tread the same paths as some of the most distinguished names in American history. Thankfully, some of this treasured land with it’s enduring beauty has been saved and held in trust by our U.S. National Parks. These parks, forests and historic sites have been recognized as national treasures to be shared with the world for generations to come.
The history of our national park services goes back well over a hundred years ago when the western states were still very much a wilderness full of mystery and hidden beauty. Inspired by early naturalists and writers like John Muir, the United States created the first ever national park on March 1, 1872 when Yellowstone National Park was created and preserved for all the people to enjoy. As more parks, historic places and reserves came into existence, they were under the control of several different federal agencies but on August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating a single federal agency to manage all the national sights under one umbrella, the United States National Park Service. “The National Park System of the United States now comprises more than 400 areas covering more than 84 million acres in 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. These areas are of such national significance as to justify special recognition and protection in accordance with various acts of Congress,” (https://www.nps.gov/articles/quick-nps-history.htm)
I know my journey with my family barely scratched the surface of what our nation has to offer in the way of unique and unforgettable places to experience the overwhelming natural beauty of our country. I am committed to seeking out new areas to scratch, to find new and different national park lands and forests to discover and to drink in the intoxicating views and experiences our nation has to enjoy. I beseech you to take time and do the same. As our climate changes and as different presidents feel they can wipe these precious lands away on a whim, this beauty is but here for a fleeting moment and then it will be gone. In 1850, there were 150 glaciers in the Glacier National Park area (before it was a national park), today there are only 25 and those are shrinking at an alarming rate. I strongly recommend you get up and go before it’s too late. As you do get up and go see some of our nation’s forests or parks, take time to take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com