Today is Earth Day. For each of us, it has an individual meaning. It can be a remembrance of travel where the seas and air were crystal clear, where the animals roamed free, and there was nary a person near. It can be a reminder to be more environmentally conscious in our daily routine. It can be a personal call to escape your home for a bit of time and exercise in nature. It can be many things to each of us.

I wake up in the middle of the night a lot these days. It was very frustrating at first, and it still is at times. My energy is sapped during the day, and I try my darndest to resist the urge for a mid-afternoon nap. We all know how important quality sleep is for a human body and for a productive mind.

In our strange new environment, navigating a worldwide pandemic, our lives are doused in stress, uncertainty, and concern. Now more than ever, I believe it is important that each of us find our own “oasis,” where we can temporarily escape the noise of our thoughts, a place where we can learn, grow and nurture ourselves.