Nature’s Lessons
What I’m learning more and more, right from my own backyard and the rested lessons from nature.
I’ve been celebrating nature and integrating something new into my morning and evening ritual these past few weeks. I’ve noticed a profound shift in the quality of my sleep and my dreams. Not only am I sleeping more soundly and through the night, I wake up more easily and refreshed, more in tune with myself and with nature around me.
I’m more present and aware.
Here’s what I’m doing:
Waking up and going to sleep at or around the same time while listening to the birds do the same. When I have this time to rest before my day and at the end of my day, it’s a quiet, reflective and mindful practice that I’ve come to look forward to as a way to feel more grounded and centered.
In the morning
Sitting outside very early with my tea.
Looking at the sky.
Observing the sounds and sights of the birds dart here and there while they sing. It sounds so noisy and out of tune and just like a symphony at the same time.
Then, one night
My hubby and I were sitting on the patio chatting around 8:30pm.
All of a sudden, I noticed the birds singing again all at the same time, tuning their instruments just like in the morning, but with less enthusiasm, more subtle and slow, taking turns as they got slower and slower.
Then, all together, they stopped. Crickets…really just crickets and frogs. The birds completely stopped. Dead silence. It was like magic.
I may not get outside for this ritual every day, but I try.
This gentle reminder to wake up with the natural light and wind down at night before bed, keeps me grounded, more present and aware.
Now, I know this may sound absurd to many of you who think the birds wake up too early and are super annoying and noisy, but to me, it’s music to my ears, my heart and my soul.
Maybe it’s my age, but “nature is calling” to me more and more.
Create our own routine
Even if you do not have birds to watch and listen to, there are other ways to regulate your circadian rhythm (*biological rhythms that occur approximately every 24 hours, such as our sleep-wake cycle). If you want to feel more refreshed and awake naturally, without depending on artificial stimuli, try:
focusing on natural light exposure,
consistent sleep schedules,
and other morning and evening routines that you can easily incorporate.
Give your body time to be in tune with nature.
You already have enough to do and think about, why add so much noise and unnecessary information to your quiet and peaceful mind. Whether it’s in the morning or in the evening.
Start and end your day by sitting and listening, pure listening without your phone or distractions of any kind.
This simple act of being mindful, consistently, brings more presence and awareness into and within all that you do.
It’s also a way to access and feel your internal senses, not just your external senses; the ones we know by heart - touch, see, smell, taste, and listening.
Why does all this matter?
It’s a simple practice to create ritual, routine and support your overall wellbeing.
When we do something like taking a moment to sit and listen to nature, we direct our attention outward.
When we practice outside mindfulness, we begin to soothe our busy minds and this allows our body’s rhythm to slow down, our breath becomes longer and our thoughts less consuming.
Our inner sense of awareness becomes stronger and we make better choices and decisions for ourself and for others.
Enjoy the abundance of nature by being in tune with the rhythm and tone of the season.
