I love the idea of coming up with your own names for the plants around you that you don’t know! I do this all the time when I go on walks and it adds so much whimsy to my day :)
I remember reading (I think it was in Rewild Yourself by Simon Barnes) the suggestion of creating a map of your local area, like the next couple of streets, of all the plants that grow there. There is a street near me that is full of foxgloves growing out of cracks in the pavement, and they come back each year. It's a visual way to track the changing scenery around you 💚
Many of us have a constant flow of discursive thought going through our minds at any moment—an incessant internal monologue.
One practice I find helpful is, especially when in nature, to take moments to step away from language: that is, to let one's mind go silent for a minute or even just several seconds. Taking such pauses allows one's senses to "talk" instead of one's discursive mind, and allows them to better disclose the immediate, living, and intricate reality outside of the mere thoughts one has.
Such brief silences, wherein we really hear and see nature around us, have an invigorating effect, indeed on the quality and clarity of our mind.
This is a perfect list you've put together! My favorite thing I've noticed on a walk recently was the all of the different scents of all of the different flowers in bloom!
I really appreciate this! On this morning “found on foot” walk I smelled a magnolia flower. And it smelled divine. Thank you for mentioning the book “braiding sweetgrass” I heard really good things about it.
I recently stumbled upon “ the milkwood, permaculture life” a book that somehow reminded me of this article: many ideas and tips for aligning your life with nature and create a regenerative relationship, wherever you live.
thank you for sharing this! I worked in a psychiatry and we did some mindfulness therapy in nature with schizophrenic patients, where we would actually do some of your advised practices: activating the senses through touch, smell, sight, listening. I especially remember how touching the plants and describing the experience and the shape had a lasting effect on not just the patients but also myself. Loved these sessions and the patients actually showed much better healing symptoms than with medication (who would've knew? :) yess nature is healing, thank you for the reminder!)
I love this 🤍 Since I started writing poetry a few years ago, I found my connection to nature has become a huge part of my life. It has allowed me to slow down and notice all the beauty around.
We are so blessed to be able to have these experiences, yet so many take for granted the beauty that is around them ❤️ my only regret is not noticing the things you share about earlier in my life but it’s never to late either.
I love the idea of coming up with your own names for the plants around you that you don’t know! I do this all the time when I go on walks and it adds so much whimsy to my day :)
Gimme all the whimsy!
I remember reading (I think it was in Rewild Yourself by Simon Barnes) the suggestion of creating a map of your local area, like the next couple of streets, of all the plants that grow there. There is a street near me that is full of foxgloves growing out of cracks in the pavement, and they come back each year. It's a visual way to track the changing scenery around you 💚
Love love love this idea
Many of us have a constant flow of discursive thought going through our minds at any moment—an incessant internal monologue.
One practice I find helpful is, especially when in nature, to take moments to step away from language: that is, to let one's mind go silent for a minute or even just several seconds. Taking such pauses allows one's senses to "talk" instead of one's discursive mind, and allows them to better disclose the immediate, living, and intricate reality outside of the mere thoughts one has.
Such brief silences, wherein we really hear and see nature around us, have an invigorating effect, indeed on the quality and clarity of our mind.
This is a perfect list you've put together! My favorite thing I've noticed on a walk recently was the all of the different scents of all of the different flowers in bloom!
Yes! 🙌🏻 You get it! So refreshing to connect with kindred souls! 💞🌻
kindred spirits <3
I really appreciate this! On this morning “found on foot” walk I smelled a magnolia flower. And it smelled divine. Thank you for mentioning the book “braiding sweetgrass” I heard really good things about it.
I recently stumbled upon “ the milkwood, permaculture life” a book that somehow reminded me of this article: many ideas and tips for aligning your life with nature and create a regenerative relationship, wherever you live.
Wow thank you for this rec! Sounds like something I’d definitely be interested in :)
thank you for sharing this! I worked in a psychiatry and we did some mindfulness therapy in nature with schizophrenic patients, where we would actually do some of your advised practices: activating the senses through touch, smell, sight, listening. I especially remember how touching the plants and describing the experience and the shape had a lasting effect on not just the patients but also myself. Loved these sessions and the patients actually showed much better healing symptoms than with medication (who would've knew? :) yess nature is healing, thank you for the reminder!)
This is so special 🥹 thank you for the reminder!! Nature heals <3
so glad to have found this post! i love seeing the sun shine thru trees on my walks 😊😊 the sun in general always makes everything look more lovely
Hi Liv I agree!! The sun on my walk the other evening literally stopped me in my tracks it was so beautiful to look at.
omg one time i literally wandered through my neighbors lawn into the woods to get a better look at it 😂😂 i know the feeling 😊☀️
OMG hahaha that is so funny. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!! 😂
I love this 🤍 Since I started writing poetry a few years ago, I found my connection to nature has become a huge part of my life. It has allowed me to slow down and notice all the beauty around.
Ugh yes I feel like poetry is so good for this. How beautiful :)
We are so blessed to be able to have these experiences, yet so many take for granted the beauty that is around them ❤️ my only regret is not noticing the things you share about earlier in my life but it’s never to late either.
So true <3 it’s all about experiencing it in the present moment anyways
Thank you for all this!
Love this
<3 thank u madeline <3