These are the times in life — when nothing happens — but in quietness the soul expands.

Artist and illustrator Rockwell Kent believed in the divinity in the natural world, which he frequently adventured into and highlighted through his transcendentalist art; his works often emphasized the mystical qualities of nature through the use of ethereal landscapes. Kent wrote this quote in his journal during an expedition to the Alaskan wilderness, which he embarked upon to escape the tumults of life back home in New York. A dispirited Kent sought revitalization amid the elements, and found a sense of liberation in Alaska’s vast emptiness, suggesting his soul had been repressed beneath the weight of societal expectations. By physically and mentally distancing ourselves from the source of stress, we can achieve serenity through simplicity.