Exploring nature...
This actually started as a coping mechanism, when I was a child. I grew up in an unstable household. My father was a lowlife criminal and a violent drunk. My older brother was very abusive towards me; it was not normal sibling behavior at all. I used to drop everything at the sound of my father's rage crashing through the house and bolt for the nearest exit before that anger could get directed towards me. Even if he did catch sight of me running away and would yell at me to come back into the house, I'd keep charging into the woods putting as much distance between us as I could.
After a while, I'd slow my pace to a casual walk and follow the worn-down deer paths; I couldn't walk the usual trails made by the previous owners of the house, because my father or brother could easily find me that way. I had to focus on calming my breathing in order to hear any possible signs that I may have been followed.
Once I relaxed, I could hear the tranquil sounds of the breeze rustling the tree branches, the mice darting between logs, a nearby tortoise lazily crunching through the fallen leaves, or the deer that frequented the area. It always amazed me how beautifully the light danced across the forest floor throughout the day; I often found myself watching it, when I felt confident that I could relax more fully. That stillness always calmed my nerves and eased the heavy weight pressing down on my chest.
Anyways, onto lighter topics...
Practicing Mindfulness
One of the first things my therapist taught me was to take in my surroundings without judgement; observe everything around me using the five senses. You can do this anywhere. At home in your living room, sitting in your car after work, while drinking a warm cup of coffee outside your favorite cafe. My favorite place to do this is in nature. I love finding all the different kinds of mushrooms along the path, spotting a chipmunk scurrying under the exposed roots of a tree, catching glimpses of fish underneath the ripples of the stream. Just allowing myself to exist with all of the creatures around me. When I was a little girl, I used to imagine what kind of life each litter critter experienced that came across my path; how long it must take them to scavenge for food, what kind of home they had, if they had babies, etc.
I also like to focus on the physical sensations to help ground me. The moss beneath my feet, the breeze blowing through my hair, the fresh air filling my lungs as I breathe in deeply, my fingers brushing along the leaves as I walk past, the warmth of the sunlight peaking in through the trees, the soft kiss of a butterfly as it flits across my face suddenly and then quickly disappears between the limbs of trees.
Really stop and appreciate the beauty
Capturing everything that makes you feel something...
It's probably my biggest pet peeve as a hiker that everyone just walks to the end without appreciating the journey to the top. There's so much to see! I don't mind taking longer to get there, so that I can stop and take photos of a cute mushroom or a big ole snail we found along the trail. I also LOVE climbing up giant rock formations (even though I'm afraid of heights).
If photography isn't your thing, that's fine! Some people enjoy sketching or painting their favorite details from the trip or writing in a travel journal about their adventures. I keep a tiny leather journal in my camera bag wherever I go. Depending on the trip, I'll bring the polaroid camera as well, so that my journal has a cute little photo of the location(s) mentioned in each entry.
You don't have to do any of those things, of course. Sometimes, it enough to just commit as much detail as possible to memory. It's a great coping technique to recall a pleasant, calming memory during stressful times. Sensory awareness can help you recall these memories using sight, touch, sound, smell, and taste. I like to imagine myself sitting on a bed of moss along the river at The Cascades in Giles County, Virginia, when it's been too long since I've enjoyed the outdoors. It's my favorite hike. It's relatively easy, the views are gorgeous, and you can stop for a quick dip in the cool water at any point along the way to the waterfall at the end of the hike.
It is so beneficial to your health to disconnect from social media. Especially, if you're a content creator of any sort. It gives you the opportunity to reconnect with yourself & your goals and to recharge that battery of yours. It's impossible to go go go 24/7. You need a break! Sometimes, it's hard to realize how tired you are until you're forced to stop and hear your body demanding you to rest. Nature does a great job of reminding us of this. It's so much easier to slow down, when you're not surrounded by electronics going off with notifications or looking around your office/home and seeing all the reminders of things that need to get done.
EXPLORE LOCALLY TO FIND SOMEPLACE PEACEFUL TO GO TO WHEN YOU NEED A BREATHER
You don't have to go on a hike in order to enjoy the outdoors
It's just as nice going to a beach or local botanical garden for some fresh air and sunlight. When I lived in Florida, there weren't many places to escape to, when I needed to get away from all the people. However, I did manage to find some less crowded parks that were just as beautiful, if not more, than the popular areas frequently visited by tourists.
Finding the time to enjoy nature
I'm sure some of you may be wondering "when the hell can I even find time to go out and enjoy nature?" I get it! It's hard when you've got a very busy life. I'm lucky that I've found a way to incorporate my love for nature into my work; not everyone has the ability to do that. Some ways you can try squeezing in time for some fresh air can look like stepping outside during your lunch break at work, going for a quick walk after dinner, sitting outside on your porch in the morning while you drink a cup of coffee or tea. I've gotten into the habit of sitting out in the grass, while I let the dogs out to go potty instead of opening the door and waiting inside for them to get done doing their business. When we lived in an apartment and didn't have a backyard, we would walk the dogs out to the pond nearby in the late evening.
Finding a moment to go outside can sometimes feel impossible. Like any habit, you have to make it a priority and wedge it into your daily routine. Just stepping outside for 5 minutes can feel like enough if you find yourself overwhelmed. Breathing in that fresh air and feeling the sun on your face can be so cleansing.
If you'd like to connect and talk more about this topic and maybe need to brainstorm some ways to add it into your busy lifestyle, you can always send me a quick DM on either my main Instagram or my travel account. I'd love to hear from you!
