Hi everyone! Thank you for being here and I hope everyone is doing well!

This past week has been a bit challenging for me due to circumstances beyond my control. I am sure all of us have had weeks like this! This week I have noticed how being out in the nature has helped me put things in perspective!

This week’s blog will be about my experience with my sit spot and how supportive being out in nature was for me! It was exactly what I needed!

In case you have not read my last blog post, I talked about a new practice to me called the Sit Spot. It is an easy and simple way to feel more connected to nature. You find the right spot for you, and you sit and experience the daily ongoings of nature! In can be anywhere you choose- beach, forest, backyard or a park. You take the time to sit, observe and listen to your surroundings. You get to know an area well, and you observe the plants, wildlife and trees, and insects there. I am doing my own sit spot practice, and I thought I would share my own observations, thoughts and feelings in this week’s blog.

Here are my thoughts, observations, feelings and conclusion from a recent sit spot session of mine;

The day was sunny, with a cool breeze, the temperature was comfortable at 71 degrees. The time was around 2pm and the area was quiet and peaceful. I was by myself on a chair, under a tree in my backyard. It was low humidity, and the wind was at 5-9 mph. The sky only had a few clouds. I was sitting mostly in the shade, and I could see the sun come through the trees and saw how the patterns of light changed during my session.

When I first sat down, I noted how I was feeling and boy it wasn’t good! I had a rushed feeling, and my mind was very busy! I was thinking about so many of the things that I needed and wanted to do around the house, etc.! But I stayed put! It felt a bit challenging at first- to sit still, but as time went on, I did find it easier, and I got into the sights and sounds around me.

There was a lot of chipmunk chatter! It seemed two of them were talking back and forth to each other! A neighbor was using a lawn mower, and I could hear loud crickets. There were birds coming to the feeders and squawking at each other and then flying off. I could hear chickadees, goldfinches and a nuthatch out in the trees singing. I was feeling the light breeze and watching the bees still going from flower to flower. I could see spiderwebs glistening in the sun. One of our resident chipmunks who we named Carl came running by. They are always so busy! I noted that quite a few trees are leaning in the same direction and they are just starting to change. There was a hummingbird at their feeder.

As I continued at my sit spot, I felt relaxed, and my mind was slowing down. I was enjoying the slower pace. My thought at the time was, “everything as it should be.”

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“In every walk with nature, one receives more than he seeks.” John Muir

When I think of how I felt when I started- My mind was chaotic, and my nerves were frayed. I felt irritable. But as I immersed myself in the moment of being in nature, I had relaxed and felt calmer. I gave myself permission to be sitting and that I was doing good self-care and I shouldn’t feel guilty! I can honestly say that I was relaxed, safe and content. It was a feeling also of appreciation for all of nature.

I came to the realization that: “It’s ok to pause during the day!”

“It’s ok to sit and stay for a while each day.”

My thought/ opinion is that if people actually took the time to get outside more- even if it for only a few mins a day then maybe nature would be more appreciated, and see the beauty of nature everywhere, then more of us will want to take better care of it!

“What is the good of your stars, and trees, your sunrise and the wind if they do not enter into our daily lives?” E.M. Forster

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order.” John Muir

Note- I found out that John Muir was one of our country’s great naturalists, and conservationist. He is credited with the development of the National Park System.

Until next week, make time to get outside!

Ann Marie