[Melody Rose]

1.What did i notice
I went to lunch with my sister. We were by the window and out of my peripheral vision I saw a couple outside, I didn’t catch all of it but either one was falling and the other person helped, or they hugged.
It was cooler and I was glad I had a sweater on unlike my sister who had a t-shirt on so put her jackets back on.
I had no taste and no smell.
2. What does that show me?
There was a lot to take in visually.
Listening for “everything” was hard to do while listening and paying attention to what she was saying.
3. What does that teach me?
There is often a lot going on around us, even if it doesn’t seem that way, and it is somewhat overwhelming at times.

2.
What did I notice ? While watching and participating in a group conversation I noticed I could hear the ppl farthest away talking just fine while some closer to me had trouble hearing them. I was very aware or ppl coming and going from the room. The person beside me commented on lunch smelling good being made in the kitchen nearby. I have a dulled sense of smell so I can’t often smell, but tried to. i couldn’t discern what it was, but could faintly smell food.
the temp was comfortable and I longed to be in the sunshine outside.
2. What does that show me?
compared with the above one, it was much easier today because although there were still many ppl there was less ppl talking at once, and less movement, so I saw the fewer movements more clearly.
3. Slowing down, really makes a big difference in this practice.

3.
What did I notice?
While walking down a trail to a creek I noticed that it was pretty loud for a fairly small creek.
2. What does that show me?
the water is very powerful, strong, a definite I AM HERE energy and presence. i felt energized by it
3. what does that teach me?
I need more/better self confidence. Be like rushing water. I am here and doing my thing, and noone is going to stop me, especially myself

Another time my final thought was that I need to let go of some things, and not to sweat the small stuff

[Melody Rose]

For me nature connection is being outside, usually in the forest or on a beach or hiking up a mountain, or just walking my dog and just enjoying myself. It is getting back to who we really are. Not just us as 1 human, but as all of the environment. The trees, the wind, the animals, the water…
It is connecting with intention physically, emotionally and spiritually to nature.

It is breaking through all the “crap” of our everyday lives that push and pull us away from what we deep down know is there, where we belong, where we need to be and what we need to feel, acknowledge, accept, forgive and love. It is going outside of our comfort zone to reconnect with who we have forgotten we once were. It is letting go of what we “should” be to take hold of what comes naturally. Like stopping to “smell the roses” or look up at the moon and the stars. It’s appreciating and noticing what is all around us that many times, unfortunately, we and others don’t take the time for.

Nature connection is important to me because it is one of the few things that has always “been there” for me. It is where I feel accepted, strong, resilient, excited, and alive. I believe it plays a very important role if we are to stand up for and protect our environment, Mother Earth.

My challenges in maintaining my connection are “lack” of time. Life is always busy and on the go, and sometimes there just isn’t enough time, or enough time to slow down and actually immerse myself in nature as I would like.

As a child I was allowed to be wild, having mud ball fights, splashing in puddles and camping every and all summer. I suppose my parents who let me do all the fun things outside would be my mentors, but i had no cultural community growing up, and maybe that is part of the reason that as I got older, in middle and high school things changed. It’s been just over a decade since I’ve known I belonged outside , and pursued to professionally and made it so that with work and play that is where I am most often. An office job is most definitely not something for me!

For me nature connection is that feeling of knowing you are where you belong as you walk through the forest and sit under/ in a tree .

[Melody Rose]

“it continues to exude it’s treeness right where it is” I love that line. Sometimes I feel stuck where I live, and have often thought I need to think/be more like a tree. You worded it well. thanks for sharing