A Mindful Moment

This months' Nature Connection Invitation

I can’t believe it’s been a whole month since my last Substack newsletter.

Aside from the busyness of the holiday season & a big work change, my family and I got hit with Covid for the first time. It was rough! But after 10 days of isolation and a whole lot of rest, the brain fog is slowly lifting and I’m finally feeling like myself again.

Here in Ottawa, there has been very little pockets of sunshine this month. In addition to the current state of the world and the economic stresses, the drearyness of the grey days and the lack of daylight has really affected the mood of some of us. But one thing Covid brought back to the surface for me was my reliable Forest Bathing Therapy personal practice.

A few days ago, my children and I gathered our energy to go outside and soak in some natural Vitamin D. We laid down on the snow and just admired the clouds that moved and created shapes. And as always, the children inspired us all to simply notice what we were seeing floating by. Engaging our sense of sight.

(here’s a little snippet of what my children saw - hehe.)

Today, I invite you to find a few minutes out of your day to find stillness outdoors. Lay on the ground, and watch the clouds pass by.

What do you see?

What do you notice?

Are there any shapes that stand out to you?

And while you are there, perhaps you take a few minutes to close your eyes and notice how the wind feels as it glazes your cheek. How the warmth rays of the sun feels as it caresses your skin. Perhaps you hear the sounds of nature around you too - whether that’s a creature stirring leaves, or a bird singing its song. Notice how they are moving about and how that sound lands in your body.

Slow down, notice, and connect.

What did you notice? Tell me below!

Sometimes we don’t need a long hike or to even be outdoors for long periods of time in order to reap the benefits of nature’s healing. All it really takes is a few minutes to find stillness and engage your senses. I hope you give it a try this month and notice a difference in your mood, stressors, and body after doing the exercise.