I’ve always felt connected deeply to the outdoors, and yet when I’m not caring for myself, it’s because I’m not liking myself. When I’m lost in self-loathing I don’t take notice of what feels good to me or what is good for me.
Now I am rediscovering the power of nature to ground me to this earth and put life in perspective.
As a single-mother of three, employed full time and doing post-graduate work, “free time” is not in my vocabulary. Making the time to practice kindness toward myself can feel impossible. But I’ve starting finding moments of peace in the presence of nature:
I walk outside and take a few deep breaths of cold air.
I put my hand out the window of my car and feel the cold raindrops on my skin.
I listen to the leaves crunching under my feet while I’m walking to my car.
I touch the branches of the bush I am walking past.
I find the moon and the big dipper in the night sky.
I am fully present in those thirty seconds or five minutes. The seasons have their rhythm, nature has its routine and I find mine embedded within what already exists. Connecting with nature’s rhythms reminds me I am part of a system that already exists.
I am not reinventing the wheel I am joining the circle.
Just yesterday while driving home from work I had this incredible urge to just get out in nature and walk. I took a detour to our local park, which surrounds a small lake and I spent 40 quiet minutes walking around the lake and breathing in the cool air. It was like suddenly being released from a small room!! Just being outside moving my body made me feel so refreshed and centered. I’m going to try and do that again today if I can get there before dark (because although I love it in the daytime, at night I turn into a big baby!!) Thanks so much for sharing this!
Ah Wendi Lee, thank you for this beautiful post. I thought of you as I sat outside last night and gazed at the moon, full and golden and hanging like a sun in the sky. Yes, nature is so revitalizing, isn’t it?
I’m grateful for your observations.
In love, Karly
I can relate to you in many ways. I also am a single mom of three, who works full time, and just recently also noticed how much I notice the little things, and truly appreciate nature. The other night I was walking alone in the cold to my daughter’s game. The chill in the air, the snow falling down, and my heart pumping as I walked quickly. For so long I had walked around in a daze, just getting through each day. Now I try and take it all in.