Category Archives: Nurture

Arboretum Strollers easy hiking trails

Arboretum Strollers ist meet Sunday….if the temp is above 45…….

http://www.ncarboretum.org/plan-a-visit/hiking-trails/

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge leveles. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Easy Hiking Trails
Azalea Collection Trail – 0.5 miles (Foot traffic ONLY)
Starting with a bridge from Bent Creek Road, this trail provides access to multiple routes through the National Native Azalea Repository, including a teaching circle and a close look at Bent Creek. At the west end of the Collection, the Fern Loop provides a cool route along a natural mountain wetland and through part of a Rhododendron thicket where you can get a slight feel as to what a “Laurel hell” meant to a mountaineer traveling cross country. Total length, including the Fern Loop, is approximately ½ mile.

Bent Creek Road – 1.3 miles
Bent Creek Road is a gravel-surfaced corridor shared by pedestrians, pets on leashes and cyclists. The 12-foot wide road follows Bent Creek for the length of the Arboretum property with several adjoining roads leading off the property into the Pisgah National Forest.

Bent Creek Trail – 1.3 miles (Foot traffic ONLY)
Bent Creek Trail, for foot traffic only, parallels the road in several places, running closer to the creek. One favorite attraction along Bent Creek Trail is the National Native Azalea Repository. Bent Creek Trail is 1.3 miles in length.

Old Mill Trail – 0.3 miles
The Old Mill Trail connects the trailhead/recreation parking area at the Arboretum’s main entrance to Bent Creek Road. After leaving the trailhead parking area, turn to the left around the pipe gate. Cross the bridge and the trail will begin to the right through the woods. This trail is named for the old grist mill that existed in the area around the viaduct bridge.

Wolf Branch Road – 0.3 miles
Wolf Branch Road allows easy access to the Carolina Mountain Trail and Bent Creek Road, affording a short, pleasant walk along a cascading stream.

 

The Arboretum Strollers will walk these easy hiking trails.

 

SMILE or DIE – Dark side of Positive Thought movement

 

Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking.
Watch the full lecture here: http://www.thersa.org/events/video/ar…

The RSA is a 258 year-old charity devoted to creating social progress and spreading world-changing ideas. For more information about our research, RSA Animates, free events programme and 27,000 strong fellowship.
Find out more about the RSA at http://www.thersa.org
Join the RSA on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thersaorg
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Produced and edited by Abi Stephenson, RSA. Animation by Cognitive Media.

Contemplation on looking within

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Could that be right? To become silent? Seems like the opposite of what I was taught.
The practice of looking within to the place beyond the noise and chaos has helped me to substitute response for reaction and contemplation for blame.  Anger is still a dance I don’t understand. I have heard it said that anger is a useful and healthy reaction to  some situations. Anger frightens me. I have a history of throwing things and punching walls, anger and I are acquainted! I have felt the volcanic eruptions and now look for the release value before “it” blows. Still finding my way to making friends with anger.

I struggle to find my voice and use my words   but it is getting easier to trust my innermost voice. In this way, aging is a true blessing- the mellowness that comes with having been around the block a few times.