“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir
One week brought me to two very different and equally memorable cities: Savannah, Georgia, and Austin, Texas. Both offered moments of beauty, connection, and wonder that reminded me how often gratitude for nature appears when we least expect it.
Gratitude for Nature in Savannah
Savannah has always been one of my favorite places, but this visit carried an extra layer of meaning. Not only was I there to speak for a wonderful group, but my 82-year-old mom joined me for some much-appreciated “corporate-sponsored family time.”
Everywhere we went, people welcomed her with warmth and kindness. They greeted her by name, held doors, and made space for her at their tables. Watching her light up reminded me how powerful simple kindness can be, and how naturally it fits into Savannah’s gentle atmosphere.
Savannah itself seems designed to encourage that gentleness. The oak trees draped with Spanish moss feel like they’re reaching down to offer a soft embrace. The river flows at a pace that coaxes you to slow down. Even just walking the historic squares reminds you that life doesn’t always have to move fast to be meaningful. Gratitude for nature doesn’t always require dramatic landscapes. Sometimes it’s the subtle beauty — the breeze, the quiet streets, the glow of soft light through moss — that shifts your whole outlook.
Gratitude for Austin’s Beautiful Weirdness
From Savannah’s grace, I jumped into Austin’s playful eccentricity, and nothing captures that spirit better than its most beloved residents: the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that live beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge.
Back in the 1980s, when the bridge was redesigned, no one intended to create the perfect home for a massive bat colony. In fact, the reaction at the time was fear. People worried about disease and mess and wanted the bats gone. But conservationists stepped in, educated the community, and helped shift the conversation. Instead of trying to eliminate the bats, Austin embraced them, and in doing so, found one of its most iconic attractions.
Today, those bats consume around 30,000 pounds of insects every night and draw crowds from around the world. The first time I tried to see them, they stayed tucked away – mating season meant no flight, no spectacle. But this time? Pure magic.
As the sun dipped behind the skyline, you could hear the faint flutter of wings before you saw anything. Then a subtle scent of guano drifted on the breeze, and moments later, the underside of the bridge came alive. Wave after wave of bats spiraled into the sky, thousands at a time, forming a shimmering ribbon of motion that lasted nearly thirty minutes. It was strange, a little messy, and completely unforgettable. And yes, I remembered to keep my mouth closed this time!
Austin’s bats are a perfect example of how something unexpected, even unwelcome at first, can become a source of awe, gratitude, and identity. Nature has a way of surprising us into appreciation.
Nature’s Magic Is Often Hidden in Plain Sight
This week reminded me that gratitude for nature doesn’t require a national park or a dramatic sunset. Sometimes it’s found in a simple walk with your mom, or in the whirl of a million tiny wings over a city that decided to celebrate its weirdness. When we pause long enough to notice, the world reveals moments that are healing, grounding, and inspiring.
A Question for You
What’s your favorite quirky or awe-inspiring moment in nature?
I’d love to hear about the places or experiences that surprised you, grounded you, or made you look up in wonder.
