Connecting to Nature

Several things converged this past week to bring me to today’s topic – connecting with nature. First, we celebrated Arbor Day and that always reminds me of the koa trees we have planted in the Legacy Forest on Hawaii island in memory of Jacob and in honor of our four children and grandchildren – our legacy. That led to memories of times with Jacob and the understanding that he was so connected to nature, in particular the ocean and its treasures of the honu (green sea turtle) and kohola (humback whale). And then, it brought me to a small wooden plate of lava stones that I have collected and keep next to my bed. All the small flat and round stones, mostly the size of a quarter or smaller, have been found on beaches where I share a memory of Jacob or from an adventure taken with friends. That small plate of stones keeps me connected to nature in a small way, every day.

But how can we stay connected to this powerful healing energy of nature every day when we are engrossed in our work or busy lives? Well, again, the Universe was speaking in that I have recently been led to several articles talking about this very subject – how to bring nature back into our lives.

First, it does not require you to go out and buy hiking boots or scuba gear. It is so much simpler and still effective to recognize the small ways in which you can connect with nature and its healing capacities. It starts in your comfort zone, but I encourage you to stretch a bit farther. Here are few ideas to get you started:

• Bring some plants into your home or office (unless you are like me and that means certain extinction within a few weeks)
• Step outside during your lunch break – even five minutes of sunlight can revive you.
• If you don’t have a view of the outdoors from your home or office, bring in artwork that depicts nature – a forest or the ocean.
• Sleep under the stars.
• Get up early to catch the sunrise, or find a place to watch the evening sunset.
• Use visualization and meditation to take you to your favorite place in nature.
• Keep a basket of items you collect from nature, such as feathers, stones, shells, wood as reminders to stay connected.
• Install a small rock fountain, the sounds of trickling water can be soothing.

Just remember, we are nature. A part of it, not apart from it.

until next time…