Busting the Myth that Self-Care is Selfish: 10-Week Self-Care Challenge, Week # 5

“I thought I knew all I needed to know about self-care yet following this challenge has been an inspiration to do ‘more’ for myself. I loved my mid-day bath, dancing in the kitchen and going on my ‘Self’ date. Reading this each week has given me permission to do more of what I love.” This is what I heard from a woman moments ago about the 10-week self-care challenge. Where are you on this journey? I often hear, “I would love to do it but I simply don’t have the time. I am running from sunrise to sunset.” The truth is if you are too busy for a little self-care then you probably need it the most! Start today and do not let anything stop you. You are worth it! Previous challenges: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4

This week I want to talk to you about the power of nature. Most people when given a chance to go outside find they are drawn to certain things in nature. Some people love trees and could spend all day sitting under one like Buddha did. Others find riding horse back over a field at death defining speeds is a pure delight that makes them feel alive. Two completely different experiences yet they are both connecting with nature.

Being in nature is something I need to do every day to feel at peace. If life starts getting over the top with daily pressure I go outside. If I only have a minute I still go out. When that is not possible I will open a window and let the outside in. Hearing a bird call or feeling the breeze puts an instant smile on my face. If I am working through what feels like an unsolvable problem I will put on my sneakers or hiking boots and go for a walk. I find answers to my most pressing questions in nature.

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” ~ John Muir, 1913

Exercise Week Five:

Simply go outside and STOP. Listen to the whisper from the wind. What do you hear, see or smell? What do you feel drawn to do? This week go outside as much as possible. You can go walking on the beach or visit the zoo. Read more

Hand in Hand With Nature

Time spent in nature’s embrace is a soothing reminder of the fact that we also are products of the natural world’s ingenuity. We feel at home in a quiet forest and are comforted by the pounding surf of the seaside. In both the sunny meadow and the shaded waterfall’s grotto, stress and tension we have long retained melts away. Finding opportunities to reconnect with nature to enjoy its healing benefits can be difficult, however. Planting and tending a garden allows us to spend time with Mother Nature in a very personal and hands-on way. We work in tandem with nature while gardening—honoring the seasons, participating in the life cycle of various organisms, experiencing the unique biorhythms of our environments, and transcending all that divides us from the natural world. As we interact with the soil, we are free to be ourselves and reflect upon meditative topics. Fresh air invigorates us, while our visceral connection to the earth grounds us. Read more

Respecting wildlife, be open and listen

For better or worse, much of the world we experience is dominated and controlled by human beings. We spend our days in houses, cars, and buildings, and inside these structures, we are in control. We assert our wills and manipulate our environment. Within the context of the human world, this is natural. However, we often carry this attitude with us into the world of nature. We forget as we enter the forest, or sit on the edge of a pond, that we are moving into another realm, one that asks us to drop our baggage and surrender to a different sense of order and meaning. Read more

Growing your own food

Growing a garden of food at home is an experience anyone can enjoy. Even a hanging basket of rosemary or a cherry tomato plant in a pot on the windowsill can enhance your connection with the cycle of life. If you have space outdoors, the green and blooming colors of the edible delights you are growing will decorate any view while tempting you to enjoy the outdoors. The edible plants we nurture allow us to literally taste the fruits (or vegetables or herbs) of our labor while helping us more consciously participate in the circulating energy of nature.

Allow yourself to begin slowly and simply, so that you can learn to dance with nature’s intricate orchestrations. There are many experienced gardeners out there to assist you as you choose seeds or small plants to start your garden. As you learn to heed the seasons, soil, sun, frost, and shade, you become more than a mere spectator of life’s cycle. Instead, you step into the role of cocreator and enhance what you Read more

Meditation for All

I struggle every day with finding the time to meditate, as I’m sure many of you do. I do meditate in my bath in the morning, yet I want more. I am currently reading a new book, Emotional Freedom by Judith Orloff, a woman I just adore. Here is what she said about meditation: “Feelings of freedom begin to percolate in us when we calm down. Meditation is the golden standard of calming techniques… meditation quiets your mind and reprograms your biology. She goes on to say to people who think it is woo-woo that science has proven, through brain imaging, to demystify meditation by pinpointing cerebral changes responsible for the calm feeling.

We have all heard of the wonderful benefits of meditation and how it can not only make us calmer but can actually make us healthier, as it eliminates stress. Who does not want to be healthy? So the question is why don’t we meditate regularly? Is it a self-care issue? If you knew without a doubt that it would change your life, would you do it? Thinking about these questions I went on a search to find some answers. Read more

We are like nature

Nature is a mirror, inspiring and teaching us, deepening our sense of belonging in the world. Wherever you look, you can see that our patterns and the patterns of the natural world are the same. You can find this resonance in every form, from molecules to plants and animals and to planets. We live our lives according to the same principles as the trees, the mountains, the clouds, and the birds.

We begin our lives in the womb, folded in on ourselves like the bud of a flower. We can see our whole lives in the mirror of this natural form. When we emerge from the womb, we slowly begin our unfolding, just as the flower begins to open its petals. At its prime, the flower draws many insects to it and also the eyes of appreciative humans. When the flower’s petals begin to fade and its life cycle comes to an end, it ceases to hold itself upright and returns to the earth. Traditionally, we return to the earth, just as all plants and animals do. Like flowers, we leave behind seeds in the forms of children and other gifts only we could have given. They continue to unfold even after we are gone. Rebirth is encoded into our lives, and death is just one part of the cycle. Read more

Connecting art and ecology

Speak to me about art and I will learn more about you. Nature is also like that. When you look deeply into the natural world you look deeply into yourself — when you describe nature, you describe yourself. –Adam Wolpert

Connecting Art and Ecology:
“There is an unmistakable link between art and ecology. Art is a process of discovering connections both within us and in the outside world. Ecology is the study of interactions among living beings and their environment. So both are really the study of relationships. Read more

The music of this world

The tool most commonly used to focus our minds in meditation is the breath. When we sit down to meditate, drawing our attention inward counteracts our habitual tendency to be scattered. Meditation on the breath helps us gather our energy into our bodies, centering and grounding us in the present moment. Almost as readily available as our breath are the sounds of the natural world. From rain to wind to the ocean and birds, meditating on these aural manifestations brings us not only a sense of peace, but also an experience of connection to the physical world. Read more

Wild wisdom, animals as teachers

Since prehistoric times, animals have acted as companions to humans on their journey toward enlightenment. Animals as disparate in character as house pets, birds, sea creatures, and insects have been our mentors, teachers, and guides. There is much we can learn from animals, as they offer us the unique opportunity to transcend the human perspective. Unlike human teachers, animals can only impart their wisdom by example, and we learn from them by observation. An animal teacher can be a beloved pet or an animal in the wild. You may even find yourself noticing the animals in your backyard. Even robins and bumblebees have lessons to share with you. Read more

Quoth the Raven(s)

From the huge windows of our new apartment, Randall and I have noticed an interesting and curious phenomenon.  It’s a daily Raven Party in our backyard!  Every day, between 4:30 and 5pm, the tree in our backyard fills with a hundred or so ravens.  In our neighbors’ trees, there are hundreds more.

We’ve had several conversations about it and have begun to make some observations:

• It fluctuates slightly, but the daily arrival time remains constant at around 4:30-4:45pm.
• It seems to be more of a social gathering rather than a meeting of any sort.
• Everyone is talking at once and it takes 10-15 minutes for everyone to arrive. Read more