I have been learning to find beauty in small things, joy in the everyday, mundane things of life. Nature has been helping me here, showing me repeatedly how very much beauty there is in the small. Not only that, but how vitally important the small things are. As I contemplated Read more…
I drove north to Duluth, Minnesota, to look at nature’s winter art. It was the many ice formations that adorn the shores of Lake Superior. My trip was multi-purposed: to visit my son, who lives in Duluth, to see the icy shores and ice-scapes along the great lake; and to Read more…
Sometimes, when the temperatures go into a deep freeze and I don’t get outside, I spend time daydreaming about nature and writing poetry. It’s not the same as getting outside and enjoying the natural environment, but it is enjoyable and therapeutic in a natural sort of way. Writing nature poetry Read more…
Winter is a time of festive holidays, beautiful snowscapes, and, for some, seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A simple activity, birdwatching, can help dash seasonal depression and serve as a natural remedy for the blues. While clinical depression is a more serious issue and requires intervention, a bout with seasonal depression Read more…
Everyone has experienced plans that fall apart. Sometimes the disappointment is great; other times it’s relatively small. Last weekend I experienced a minor(ish) disappointment when my plans fell apart. I instinctively turned to nature for comfort. The results? I was able to let go of my letdown and was presented Read more…
While stress is a natural part of life, good stress vs. bad stress is an important thing to learn about and identify. Not all stress is harmful. When any stress is experienced, your body releases hormones. I’m sure most people have heard of “fight-or-flight” mode by now. It is a Read more…
Nature has a way of giving me a new perspective. Last year was hard in many ways, and I said goodbye to it with a sigh of relief that I was facing a new year, a new beginning. Since 2025 began, less than a week ago, I have been visiting Read more…
This year I decided to make New Year’s nature resolutions. I’ve done some research and thinking, and I have come up with 12 things to do outside, one per month. Of course, I am outside enjoying nature much more than once a month (nearly every day, in fact), but I Read more…
“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.”— William Blake, English poet When winter weather sets in and it’s cold outside, maybe (probably) it’s time to discover the magic of winter in nature. This end-of-year season has me thinking back about some magical winter adventures I’ve had. Here’s Read more…
Nature has a therapeutic effect on the mind. Exposure to natural environments can greatly improve mental health.