A long walk in nature clears my mind.
Some of. you may have read about a recent unpleasant experience I had. This ended up being my most-read post, leaving me reflecting on how so many of us are seeking deeper connections with other people.
The deepest connection I have is with nature. It is one I cherish and I have my upbringing to thank for this. I was raised on the lakes, and in the mountains and I thank my parents for instilling this in me. For me, being with nature has always been calming and therapeutic. There is comfort when entering a quiet forest or in a boat on a still lake.
Nature has so many messages for us and it had much to say on my recent walk on the virtue of patience.
Patience and universal timing
Today I enjoyed a much-needed long walk in nature. My mind has been busy. Most days I awaken with racing thoughts and fall asleep in the same manner, which is very unlike me. This was a reminder I needed to slow down and find some inner peace, and what better place to do that in the local forest.
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and I celebrated by buying myself a dozen roses and a chocolate bomb thing that I was too stuffed after a dinner of spinach tortellini to eat. I am looking forward to trying it this weekend when I am hungrier.
I also donated some money to a local animal rescue that recently found two injured barred owls that need assistance and rehabilitation. As you know from my name, I love owls and this is my way of giving back when I can to an animal that is very dear to my heart. I will be visiting some owls soon at a center and will share this experience here soon!
Valentine’s Day can be unpleasant for singles, the heartbroken, those who are alone, and the elderly especially. I always do something to celebrate self-love, the most important love of them all. This always involves chocolate, because, to me, chocolate is love and so is a good strong cup of coffee.
I didn’t hesitate today when I had the chance for a walk on one of my favorite local trails. After weeks of being cooped up due to freezing rain and grey skies, it was nice to have these last few sunny, but cold days.
During the walk, I fell deep into contemplation. Perhaps February does this to us.
At the start of the year, I made a big and scary decision that I sometimes worry was premature. My mind was busy with what-ifs. As I continued along the snow-covered trail, I searched for signs of spring. It was lovely to see the pine needles aglow in the late-day sunlight and hear the birds singing.
Being close to nature always reminds me of the virtue of patience. Nature doesn’t rush, nature just is. Often times I find myself wondering when something will come to fruition, anxious to see the end results of hard work, or for a desire to manifest itself.
The universe doesn’t reward this kind of energy. Ever notice when we focus on wanting one thing it just doesn’t happen, and then when we shift our focus, that one thing magically does?
Ever notice when we just surrender to life, listen to our intuition, say yes to opportunities, and what feels right, things just flow?
This happened to me a few times in the past several years and it was all because my mindset had shifted. I wouldn’t necessarily say I did it on purpose, I was just living in the present moment day by day, grateful for what I had. This especially happened during my camper van trip around Iceland last summer. I was living in the moment every day and when I returned home it was with a whole new set of friends, opportunities, and clarity.
Today on my walk this idea of being patient came to me over and over again, especially when I saw the ice thawing on the path. Here are a couple lessons I have been learning this year so far, and when I say learning, it means I have not mastered them yet, but they are recurring themes…
- Be patient. You can’t rush the good stuff. You can’t skimp on the work, or the time, or the experience. It is all part of the journey.
- Trust your intuition. It is ALWAYS right. If something feels off about a situation, or someone or something, listen to it. This is something we are born with.
- Have empathy for those who mistreat you. (this is a hard one and I feel like as a health care worker this happens on the daily, but when it gets personal, its even harder) Understanding that when someone mistreats you, it is about them, not you. I believe that is in the book The Four Agreements too. It is never about you.
- On that note, this does not mean you have to tolerate this type of behavior or even worse, try and fix the person. This can be terribly difficult to swallow. As an empath I often find myself drawn to people who need love and help, and this can be dangerous for me. It is okay to want to help people, but only within your boundaries and not at your own detriment.
- Say yes more often. Say no if it invades your boundaries.
- Self-worth is THE most important thing you can carry with you anywhere. From this comes kindness, love, and compassion for others.
- Self-care is not optional.
- I need to run more. I used to love long-distance running and I still do, but in 2020 I fell off the bandwagon, and never really sorta got back on. When I say sorta, I mean I still run but just a few times a week and then I fall off for weeks at a time. I realized I shouldn’t do this. Running has saved my life is so many ways, and I owe myself to keep up with it. So I signed up for my first race of the year to stay motivated! For me, running is self love, like chocolate.
I hope everyone is having a lovely February and that you took time on Valentine’s Day and every day to love the most important person in your life, you.
