I can resonate with this theme so much. I really love nature. And especially through these past times, we need the connection with it more than before.
What nature means to me?
A lot of things come to my mind.
Freedom. Refreshment. Recharging. Pure energy.
The perfect balance of calmness and wildness at the same time. Balance of different forces.
I had a very special, spiritual experience once with nature – and I like to think about it through that moment. I was wandering in the forest, it was a part of a long journey, and actually, that was the only time when I really got lost. By really, I mean, it caused extra 10 kms for me. But when I was there wandering in the pure nature, wondering how perfectly untouched that path was – I felt a real connection with it. It was spiritual because I felt so that I’m part of that forest. The boundaries of my body disappeared and I became one with nature itself. I felt my body so light (even with the 10kgs backpack), lost in time, and was very present in those whatever moments. It might was only a short one or either a few hours. I couldn’t really tell – but felt limitless.
And one of the most memorable experiences on that long journey.
For me, it’s very important to spend time outside. To feel the fresh air, to be close to the natural water from time to time, to feel the ground under my feet, to smell plants and flowers.
If it’s about mental health, that’s crucial to let problems, hard feelings go, to create space for something good, something new.
I admire the parallel with breathing.
Since the curfew has been announced last autumn again, I go almost every weekend for hiking. Let it be cold outside or warm. Just want to be there. To connect, to refill my natural energies, to let my unnecessary thoughts be left there, to breathe them out and replace them with freshness.
Another special experience with nature, when I was going into the forest in the very early morning. It was fully dark and I was alone. I had a headlamp, and all that I could see, some steps on the path before me and some tiny-shiny pairs of eyes of wild animals. Somehow, it was not scary at all. I felt absolutely safe there. I was sure in the very inside, that nothing wrong can happen. Let those eyes belong to a small rabbit, or a fox, or a deer or a boar. Again, a perfect balance of calmness and wildness.
I really admire the variety of these natural energies also. I couldn’t use another word for it, because something ‘natural’ expressing it the best way. It means that it is just so right. It is good as it is.
And when it’s about mental health, another important thing is to reflect on our experiences, thoughts and feelings. To dig deeper when thinking about something, to clean it from all the externalities, and the pure, natural feeling remains at the end.
Or other times, just accept them as they are, without analysing. As it is also important to let them come as they are, even if they are messy, or seem to be. Not trying always to understand, but just ‘going with the flow’. It’s again about the balance and knowing what’s right.
What really feels right inside.
When I’m in the nature, far from the everyday lifestyle, far from external influencing factors and people – I have this ability to connect not just with nature, but with my inner self. I would suggest to everyone from time to time to give themselves this freedom, this refreshment.
It’s releasing.
It’s also about acceptance – of things you cannot change. Like nature. You can try – you either can create, plant a new tree, a flower, change the routes of the river, or also destroy (oh, how many times we do it!). Still, it’s much more powerful than we are. It also can give or take things away. Can vitalize or also destroy. We are connected, and we are depending on it just as it depends on us. We should take care of it. Just as we should take care of ourselves. Not just because it’s stronger, but because it’s part of our future. Live and let live. What you give, you will get back. It’s all about the circulation of energies.
As our mental health – it’s part of a bigger system. You cannot be fully healthy mentally if your body is unhealthy, if you are not taking care of it. Or emotionally, also need to take care of it. All equally important.
Oh Gosh, I really like this topic…
And what does it mean to you?
