There is a timeless flow to the natural environment; nature lives in the present. There are seasons and cycles of life; plants and animals are born and die according to the natural order of things. Rivers flow, clouds form and disperse, and foliage blooms when it is ready. What I love about this present-living world is how it teaches me that I, too, can find a flow in life as I practice what nature is teaching me. Live in the now.
As a nature therapy guide, I teach people how to deepen a connection with nature and enjoy each moment. Slowing down and pushing aside distractions (work, life, the to-do list…) can cultivate a state of present living with which we humans struggle. Do you ever ruminate on the past? You know, the “if onlys” of life. Or have you ever worried about the future? I know I have! I’m regularly bringing my mind out of an anxious state when I find myself thinking about the “shoulds” and “what ifs” of life.
It takes practice, but it is well worth the effort.
I went for a hike in the woods recently. It was a cold day, below 20° and a bit windy, but I was dressed accordingly. The weather was less important to me than some much-needed time in the natural world.
Forgetting the past
Passing a field before I headed into the woods, I saw some vacated bluebird houses. The birds had left prior to the onset of cold weather. I immediately felt a twinge of woe, thinking how long it would be before I’d see the bluebirds again. I love those beautiful creatures! Just after my mind began to ruminate on the departure of so many songbirds, I captured my thoughts. What a waste of energy to long for what was already gone!
Being present in nature is a practice of enjoying what is, not what has left. In nature therapy, one enjoys the beauty all around, observing and engaging the senses. Present living is a state of being. It is something that can be fostered by slowing down and connecting with nature.
One of my favorite concepts regarding nature connection is to go outside with no purpose other than to enjoy the natural world. I developed a method I’ve used on guided hikes that serves as a guide for connecting with nature as a means of stress reduction. It begins by going outside without a purpose. I think anything outside—fishing, gardening, sports—is great and beneficial. But with true nature connection, the intent is to be in the natural world for the sole purpose of enjoying it. Here’s my 3X3 Nature Connection Model:
Don’t Worry about the Future
As I mentioned, the temperature was cold. Although I was well insulated, I still found myself worrying about the pending winter. Autumn was passing, the leaves had fallen off the trees, and there was ice forming on the edges of a nearby river. What would winter bring? I wondered.
An avid snowshoer, I began to worry there would be a lack of snow for my sport. I love winter, but it is the snow that pushes me from like to love. I walked along the river, through the woods, and thought about how long winter can seem when there isn’t adequate snow for me to tromp through.
Again, I captured my thoughts. I quickly realized I was worrying about weather that was still to come. Some futuristic possibility. What a silly thing to do! Here I was in beautiful woods near a meandering river, and I was fretting about the possibility of a snowless winter. In my defense, I’ve lived through many cold winters that didn’t produce much snow. But why worry about it while I was supposed to be enjoying what I did have? Full sun. Invigorating cold. Deep woods. Solitude.
I brought my mind to the present and resumed my hike.
Nature Simply Is
I learned a lesson in the woods that I have learned a thousand times before. Nature simply is. There is no past or future. There is only the now, the present. I love that about nature! I spend a lot of time outdoors, year-round, enjoying the sense of simply being. It’s funny to me how we humans engage in time travel in our minds. Time travel is not possible. In the mind though? We do it all the time!
I returned to the river and gazed at it for a long time. The ice formations were beautiful. The ripples around big rocks that poked the surface were mesmerizing. I thought about leaving a few times but couldn’t bring myself to move. The river cast a spell on me, and I found myself simply being. It was as if I was stepping into nature’s presence.
I’m not sure how long I stayed there, by the river, but I know it was long enough for me to purge the past and rein in worry about tomorrow. Once again, nature taught me the value of living in the present. I like living in the now. It’s calm. It’s peaceful. It brings me joy.
As I left the woods, I reminded myself to bring the sense of simply being with me, out of the woods and into life. It is a practice I will engage in often. It is a practice I hope to take through life. It is a practice nature has down to a science, and nature is always willing to share its wisdom with me.
Thank you, nature.
