Blessed by Nature
Canada. The perfect place for self-discovery and healing.
Living amongst beauty, I’ve always felt held by nature, supporting me and nudging me awake.
I lay on my bed, expressionless with my laptop beside me and my work email open, yet painfully inactive. Sporadically scrolling over the screen with the mouse to keep the power working as if I am too. If anyone was to check they would see the little green light beside my picture and it would wink at them, subtly letting them know that ‘she’s active, productive, on the ball’. Well, at least I made it this far today despite my first waking thought which was met with a wince and a sigh, “uh-what’s the point?”
At noon I fled my apartment armoured in the perfect black active-wear outfit, tight enough to withhold the jiggle but loose enough to hide the belly. The only thing I feel I’ve earned through this quarantine is a belly and as I type this I hear “belly gona get ya, belly gona get ya, belly, belly, belly'.' Remember the advert with the giant belly chasing the man? If not, you should look it up. It's funny but quite terrifying.
I set off on a 5km jog along the beach, my eyes were glued to the picturesque views and my mind’s chatter halted in awe. I’ve always believed that our souls are recognized in nature. In admiring nature’s true beauty, exactly as it is, we in turn salute our souls, our truth, our light. Today, trudging along that beautiful beach I remembered with every fiber of being that, All is One.
Sometimes during quarantine I find it difficult to leave my apartment even though I’m allowed to for exercise or grocery shopping. At times, I feel lazy, wanting to remain in a deep funk. Other times, I’m anxious about feeling ‘seen’ and prefer to hide. Today, I bypassed my ego and it wasn’t to exercise for the usual more superficial reasons but rather to visit a dear friend, one that never fails to cheer me up and recognize my inner light; my friend, nature. It sounds cliché but isn’t that what a friend is? A being, an energy, that has the unwavering ability to lift you up and hold a mirror up to your light, loving you for you?
When I run, I recognize nature. I recognize the wonder that it is, it’s innate beauty and the love it seems to emit simply by being. I’m grateful to be in its presence and to be engulfed by its beauty. So now, leaving my apartment to exercise doesn’t seem like a chore anymore, rather, a gift. As I run I bless nature and all that I pass by; the sea, the stones, the grass, the many trees, mischievous birds, and my favorite the elated dogs and their owners. If you’ve tired of the list of reasons to get outside for yourself, don’t do it for you, do it for nature - your spirit. If you forego your walk you won’t get the opportunity to bless nature and in exchange receive its healing.
By acknowledging nature you acknowledge the Self. It is almost automatic that we admire the cherry blossom tree. We admire it’s wisdom and beautiful pink flowers calling attention to all who pass by, but we also admire its broken and tangled branches, its flaky bark and lopsided stance. We honour the whole tree in its imperfect perfection. Nature is a wise teacher, a friend, and a mirror for our souls. Visit your friend everyday and bless the beauty in all that is, for All is One.