My Perfect Light
I recently read an article called “The Perfect Light of Autumn” that shared a beautiful story of self-reflection and inspiration. The author does an incredible job of encapsulating why hunters head out into the woods every season: it’s not just to shoot a trophy deer or harvest some meat for the freezer; it’s truly a time to enjoy the world all around, simply us and our thoughts, and if you’re lucky, a deer or two.
I thought it fitting to share my own “perfect light” story ahead of this deer season. For me, my perfect light comes at sunset as I’m taking my dog for a hike. There’s nothing more peaceful or reflective than the way the setting sun turns the sky majestic shades of orange, yellow, and pink. In my opinion, the colors only seem to get better after the sun completely disappears over the horizon; it’s the way the light continues to shine long after its source has disappeared that the sky is the most breathtaking. It’s during these lasting moments that I take a deep sigh of relief, wondering how I got so lucky to experience moments such as this while simultaneously letting all my worries slowly disappear with the setting sun. With my dog running out in front of me, his tail wagging, his nose sniffing every last smell, and his happy smile turning around every so often to check on me, I can’t help but smile back at him.
I recall a specific picture I have of one of these very moments. I captured my dog mid-run, his ears flapping in the breeze, as he rushed to come back to me. The sun is a bright orange spot in the sky, as it hasn’t quite hit the horizon yet and transformed its surroundings. The water on the bay we were walking along didn’t even look blue anymore as it absorbed the glowing orange sunlight behind the trail we are on—green, tall grass mixed with wildflowers swaying with the slight breeze. Looking at this picture brings back fond memories of that time in my life, but it also reminds me to seek out time to continue to enjoy and appreciate these little moments in life.
Even though my “perfect light” may not be while sitting in the deer stand, I think that’s also part of the beauty of it. Everyone’s “perfect light” is different. Yours may be sitting on the beach watching the waves crash onto shore. It may be taking your kids and grandkids into the woods and watching them experience nature the way you once did as a kid. It may be sitting in the duck blind just before first light, filled with anticipation of the morning yet to come. Whatever it looks like for you, I do think we all have one thing in common, however: our “perfect light” centers around nature and the world around us, uniting us in a shared passion for the outdoors.
As you make your way to the woods this season—hunting or not—I encourage you to reflect on your own “perfect light” story. What does it look like to you? Life is too short to not enjoy every moment we get, especially those days when we are lucky enough to spend some time outdoors.
