How often do we really look, really listen, or really smell when we are out on a walk?
When we are walking in nature using our 5 senses, there is so much we can learn from the nature.
Be aware of what is around us, slow down our pace, notice the plant growing on the side of the river, listen for the birds chirping overhead and smell the fresher air or even feel the soil when we are stepping on the grass.
Over the last few weeks, I don’t think that I have felt so much closer to nature than before. I have spent sometimes in the forest and close to nature, and this has given me a chance to grow closer to and learn from nature. I know I have certainly been appreciating the outdoors a lot more ever since being encouraged by the speakers of GMF Fellowships Programme especially Dr Nat.
What nature has taught me…
CONNECTION – During the forest bathing few weeks back, I spent times watching a butterfly move around flowers collecting nectar from each one and ants carrying dead body of beetle to its nest.
Whether it’s insects and plants working together, a dead wood aiding new plant growth by returning important nutrients to the ecosystem or seeing how deforestation has caused changes to our world far beyond just losing a few trees.
I realize that we are part of the nature and connected to it as much as we are connected to each other. I realize that the more we connect to nature, the more we will learn to appreciate it and crucially, the more we will want to look after it.
The Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on human–nature has truly shown how we all are connected!
PATIENCE – We don’t see nature rushing to grow or to bloom. It can take years before an orange tree starts producing orange and we might need to wait a year to see a flower bloom for just a day.
In this fast-paced world, humans have become so used to rushing about trying to do many things at once, when sometimes we just need to slow down. Slow and steady wins the race.
During the pandemic of COVID-19, the lockdown has forced almost all of us to slow down. To spend more time at home, and eat at home with family instead of eating out with friends.
For the past weeks, my pace of life has certainly changed. I’ve slowed down, spent more time in nature, do some gardening, spent time on reading, writing and even journaling. And allocating time for embodiment practice & meditation too. It’s such a great and relaxing feeling, and it calms my mind!
RESILIENCE – No matter how worst the condition is, we see plants always finding ways to survive, trying their very best to bend in the direction of the light source.
We are resilient too! The pandemic has been tough, but as long as we are trying our best to sail through, we will definitely stronger than before!
After all...
I’ve certainly felt more connected to nature during the pandemic… have you?