Have you discovered the healing power of nature?
Overcome isolation by submerging yourself in nature, whether it be a walk in a forest, a hike up a mountain, or, like me, dipping a toe into wild swimming.
“Try getting in touch with nature yourself. If you notice a stone lying on the ground, pick it up and hold it. When you see flowers blooming on the side of the road, stop and smell their fragrance” – Shunmyo Masuno
I had the good fortune to go swimming in the lake this morning. What a blessing to spend a frosty morning exploring this beautiful place!
Being submerged in water transports me to a different realm; the past is forgotten and the future is simply the next breath, the next movement.
As a surfer, I am used to reading the sea and waiting for waves, perhaps with a certain impatience. It seemed strange at first, to be swimming in a lake amongst such stillness, but I became fascinated by the hypnotic undulation of the water caused by my simple presence. A ripple effect, like a pebble dropped in still water. My movement and the movement of the water became a mediation together.
At this time we many of us may feel isolated and solitary. Yet in the water there is a feeling of oneness: It is the gift of nature and as human beings we are part of that greater gift. Being in nature is a way of healing isolation.
I don’t know if you have a new year’s resolution, but mine is to continue to spend as much time with nature as I possibly can xxx
Ice Swimming
