Category: Mindfulness in Nature

Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese term and translates as “forest bathing”, or taking in the forest through your senses.  (Here’s a 3-minute video explaining.)  The positive effects of even 15 minutes in a woods or a park are numerous – uplifted mood, reduced blood pressure, lowered anxiety, increased focus, and more. And that’s why I headed to the Read more…

Take a moment to pause … Invite a deep breath into your body and then let it go … What do you notice? I am fascinated more and more by the rich layers of sounds, sights, smells, and sense of touch that are continually present, yet rarely get my attention.  We’re inundated with sensory experiences and overstimulated much of the Read more…

What does September represent to you?  For me, September has the quality of a big long exhale.  It’s that transition time when things start to slow down.  There is a preparation for heading indoors.  The same feels true personally.  There is a shift from doing to being, from action to self-reflection. While I love turning inward and slowing down, Read more…

Have you experienced any feelings of overwhelm lately?  There are plenty of ways overwhelm can creep in – hectic schedules, personal demands, societal expectations, social media, the news, political division, environmental issues …  And sometimes one of those, or several of them piled up at once, and it just becomes too much. I have found myself Read more…

I started pulling weeds again today.  Just a small patch by the garage.  I have been meaning to get to the weeds ( … all of them … eventually) and had a realization that this is probably the last big round I’ll need to pull as we head into fall.  Then I’ll need to trim Read more…

Where do you like to spend time with others?  For me, that’s easy … nature.  I’m more relaxed.  I can slow down.  I feel spacious and grounded.  That’s why I love being outdoors with others. The forecast didn’t look promising, though, for a planned day at the beach with two friends.  So we decided to run Read more…

A cool grey overcast sky can feel relentless after a while in its effort to keep the sun just out of sight.  To me, at least.  Bright warm sunshine is a motivator, infusing me with energy to tackle projects and lifting my mood in general.  Today was an offering of cool persistent grey that lulled me into a feeling Read more…

It is the last day of July as I write this.  Summer is winding down and you can feel the energy starting to shift.  School supplies are out at the stores and there is a sense of starting to come down from that intoxicating summer high, from the sense of freedom and playfulness that summer can bring. Read more…

I love rainy Sundays and usually enjoy sitting inside or on my porch watching and listening to the rain.  And that was what I was doing this morning until some negative self talk and feelings started creeping up on me.   I haven’t been eating the best lately and that always affects my mood.  I Read more…