For the last week we have had glorious sunshine in Ireland! It’s something that people living in Ireland never take for granted. We rarely waste a sunny day, or even a sunny moment. There is a general rush to be outside as much as possible. Long overdue jobs in the garden are prioritised and trips to the local lake are squeezed into busy days. We cherish the physical warmth of the sun, the dryness of the lush green grass, the beauty of the blue sky and the brilliance with which everything is shining. This physical experience has a deeply nourishing emotional resonance too. Although so many of our circumstances and challenges remain unchanged, somehow, with sunshine, everything seems a little brighter and easier to manage. I hear the difference it makes to my clients and group participants and I see the difference it makes in my friends and family and I feel the difference it makes in me.
I found myself wondering about how easy it would be to take the sun for granted if I lived in a country that usually has constant sunshine. I might even grow to dislike the sunshine, especially if I were experiencing drought conditions. Then I found myself hoping that if I am ever surrounded by constant sunshine, I hope I would remember my current feelings and be able to treasure and appreciate it as much as I do now.
Then I realised that there must be people in the world who probably celebrate when it’s a rainy day, perhaps even dancing in the rain in gratitude for it. They know how essential rainwater is for life – for all life – and don’t want to waste a drop of it. They may crave the Irish climate of almost constant dampness and the year-long lush green carpet that it creates.
So, I realise with humility, that much as I treasure these beautiful sunny days, I also want to treasure the rainy ones, the windy ones, the cool fresh ones, the dark cloudy ones and every day in between. Every day in the natural world has gifts for us to enjoy if we can slow down enough to see and embrace them. If we can experience the richness of all that nature has to offer, it can help and nourish us as we manage all the other challenges in life.
So, whatever the weather where you are today, can you step outside for a few minutes? Can you take a few deep breaths outside? Can you see what captures your attention outside? A blade of grass? A passing cloud? A little insect? Take a moment to wonder, how is this piece of nature enriching your life? What wisdom can you learn from this piece of nature? Can you take a few moments every day and gift yourself the re-set of time outside?
As another gift to yourself – how about planning a day to visit a place of natural beauty near you. Visit, not just to show your visitors, but to show yourself, as a treat for yourself, giving yourself time to just ‘be’ in nature. Can you visit some woods, mountains, or the ocean? As an exercise, maybe list the places you most love to visit and schedule one visit each month for the next six months.
Spending time in nature does not alter all of our circumstances but it can certainly alter our perspective and it can nourish us deeply. It usually slows us down a little, grounds us a little, supports a gentleness with ourselves and others. It doesn’t cost money and it is available to everyone. It will cost you a little time and will have rich rewards. Please gift these good things to your precious self.
