“In Wildness is the preservation of the world. . . or at the least my personal sanity!”

Have you ever experienced the sanity and peace that comes from time spent in nature?  Have you noticed?  Give it a try.

For me, summertime is the time of year when I can’t help but notice the stress-relief found in the world outdoors.  From the bright blue sky, the aroma of the rose bush in bloom, the coolness of the shady green leaves in the trees, to the hummingbird’s dance of joy at my full feeder.  These things make me pause and smile at nature’s gifts that calm my mind.

We live in a world with so many stressors.  Work, kids, finances, traffic, the obligations list is long.  Seems like we’ve been given summertime, with all it’s vibrance, to grab our attention and take pause.  

Try it.  

Take a few minutes in a beautiful outdoor space and just notice. . .

Notice what you see, hear and smell.  What colors catch your eye?  What sounds do you find pleasing?  Does anything tickle your nose?  Is there something wonderful to touch or taste?

Notice.  Then notice more.  Pause and take in the moment.  What sensations do you notice?  What pleasant feelings do you notice in the moment?

Notice how the pleasant experience of your moment “in wildness” calms your mind.

Notice.  Take a good long mental “snap shot” of this experience.  

If this exercise is hard for you, no worries, the more you practice it, the easier it will become.  Practice this and you’ll be training your brain to find comfort from the stressors of everyday life.  Let “wildness” be the preservation of your sanity too.

The next time you’re not “in wildness” but in the wild happenings of that stress filled with obligations life of yours. . . think of that “snap shot.” 

Think of all the sights, sounds, smells, colors, sensations and feelings you recall of that experience.  Notice.  Bring the calming solace of that “in wildness” experience to you wherever you may be.

Just imagine how it could be if you practiced this exercise regularly.  Just imagine how it could be if your spouse did.  Or maybe your boss or your. . . 

Maybe Thoreau was right.  Just maybe “in Wildness is the preservation of the world.”