In Australia, we are blessed with natural environments even in our cities and suburbs that are rich with life; clear skies unblemished by plumes of smog; birds that nest and live out their lives in our city parks; the sound of birdsong in the early morning and evenings; trees of all shapes and sizes that shelter and shade in our hot summers; grass that green our roadside verges; sea and rivers and streams that dissect and border our communities and strips of natural bushland that embellish our suburbs.
We are truly blessed to have this abundance of natural riches, particularly on the edges of this diverse and great island. Yet it is so easy to be caught up in the tedium and minutiae of the everyday interspersed with virtual images and short sound grabs of news from across the globe. Our minds are tired and our bodies are tense and we can't wait until the weekend where we catch our breath before we do the same again.
Yet .. I wonder what our worlds would look like if we paused every now and then and on-purpose took notice of the natural world around us; that birdsong; the blue sky; the sound of water running; the shimmer of sunlight on wet leaves after rain; the greenness of the park; the smell of freshly mown grass ..
and take a brief reprieve from the fast and furious. Seeing green is medicine for our minds where tension is relieved and our thinking is allowed to rest.
Nature has a wonderful way of resting our minds which in turn brings a sense of peace and calmness. Observing nature has been shown to help our minds rest from cycles of anxious thoughts, and even looking at trees through a window can help us heal.
There are so many simple things that we can include in our every day. Stopping to breath in the fresh scent of trees and shrubs in our parks. And even noticing the different scents, like the sharp freshness of our lemon-scented gum trees. Even walking barefoot across the lawn helps to bring a sense of well-being to our bodies. Touching a tree trunk as we walk past it on the foot path reminds us that we are part of the natural environment. Planting a small pot on our balcony with fresh herbs helps us reconnect with nature, especially when we get to pick a sprig for our dinner. And stopping to smell that rose billowing over the fence we walk past every day gives our minds a much needed rest.
Each of these are easy to do and wonderful to teach our children so that their little minds can also feel that sense of peace and rest. And connecting with nature helps our children develop and grow healthy and strong.
Simple little things that we are all designed intrinsically to do, which is why we feel better when we incorporate these into our daily lives.
And it's free and fun! Try it and see for yourself!!
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