The Blog |
 As we wrapped up our spring Sacred Nature course, students were surprised at how deeply they could connect with nature right in their backyard. I get it! There’s an assumption floating around that in order to have heart-swelling, spiritually orgasmic experiences outside, one must wander out into the vast wilderness, hiking miles a day, surviving on dirt and drinking dew on blades of grass. While I won’t deny I’ve had miraculous moments far away from civilization, my most meaningful experiences happened right in my suburban garden. This is made possible because of consistency—you’re more likely to develop a familial relationship with a patch of Earth you visit every day, than with a place you only visit once in a lifetime. Think about it this way...  Did you know...
According to a recent study, The Nature of Americans, 75% of American adults said their interests in nature are among the most enjoyable things they do. But in the same study, over 60% of those same adults reported spending five or fewer hours per week outside in nature. That’s about 42 minutes a day doing their most enjoyable thing. (💔 This makes my heart so sad) Most of the 5,550 adults participating in the study from across the United States also were aware that exposure to nature is important to their physical and mental health, as well as fostering important community connections. Soooo, ✔️ nature makes them happy ✔️ nature makes them healthy 🤔 But they’re only spending 3% of their day outside. Why?  Time!
What a bitch, amirite. There's never enough, and it only seems to speed up with age. A question I hear a lot about time is: "How can I make time for practices for peace and connection when… ... I'm so busy." ...I don't even have time for what I need to do, let alone what I want to do." or the crappiest of all... "How can I make time for practices for peace and connection when I tell myself I'm not important enough to take time for." While we can't ignore that our physical existence has an expiration date, I've found that my perception of time has changed wildly, from feeling anxious to expansive. This is partly due to the wonderful spell cast while out in nature, making time feel elastic. Moments deeply immersed in my senses and fully embodying the present stretch moments into lifetimes. It's super important to remember that practices that help us connect with ourselves and the Earth and decrease our stress don't need to take hours to be effective! For example, I schedule time in the morning for a 10-minute gratitude ritual in my garden and then take one or two other brief nature breaks around lunchtime time and late afternoon. My expansive view is also due to mindset shifts that affect how I choose to spend my limited time. Little encouraging pep talks remind me of my value and that making healthy choices for myself has ripple effects that benefit my relationships. Below are my personally-tested mantras to help you reclaim time to fill your cup by helping you overcome every "oh, but I couldn't possibly." |
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