The inner call to the outdoors

I am always grateful for a Nature Nudge moment. While sometimes subtle, these moments connecting to nature provide shifts in perspective to help calm the noise, both internal and external. Feeling both lately, I was determined to wake this morning in time to go outside to catch a glimpse of the total lunar eclipse and blood moon. Yes, I know we had winter weather overnight, call me an eternal optimist, I threw on my layers and headed outside for the forecasted peak at 6:33am regardless. Wow was it slick, everywhere! My senses on high alert already, and despite the dreary sky above, I clumsily made my way down to the creek, slipping on even the ice covered grass but intrigued by the challenge of an overnight coating of freezing rain throughout my yard. Looking all around, it became apparent I was not going to witness this spectacular moon’s signature red glow that a lot of the rest of the world was, but in that moment, my brief disappointment shifted and I realized I didn’t have to. I couldn’t visually see it in the sky, but I knew that this particular full moon and lunar eclipse was special in its rarity and occurring nonetheless. And so I embraced that moment of being outside under the cloud covered sky and went about my morning mindfulness, movement and breath-work routine, reminded that you don’t always need visual validation to be moved by nature. Connection starts the moment you feel your senses “experience” nature. What I love about the power of nature to teach life lessons is that sometimes how I want or think I should experience something is not what actually happens. But by shifting or adjusting my perspective, for me through mindfulness and full sensory awareness, I can still reap the mental health benefits of my time in nature. Just as the owls I hear but never spot or the birds chirping hidden in the cover of the pine trees or the sound of raindrops on the trees at night, each nurtures my soul with its simplistic unseen beauty. With so much chaos in the world, I encourage you to get outside and try this for yourself. Let nature guide your thoughts, feelings and breath. Block out the noise of everyday life and try practicing mindfulness by sitting, listening, feeling and experiencing the rhythm of the nature world. Here’s the thing, “noise” will always been there, but by taking time to disconnect from it and connect to nature you just might reconnect with yourself, gaining perspective to help quiet the noise, both inside your head and from the world around us. Hoping my nature nudge inspires you to get outside, take time for yourself, to sit, to slow your breath, to listen, to close your eyes and experience something in a different way.