Nature is Not a Luxury
Last week was heavy.
I’m still healing from my most recent relationship ending. In the astrological world, it was a ‘karmic’ relationship, and it brought up a lot of old wounds that I thought I had healed. Apparently, I’m not as healed as I thought.
That, coupled with a kitchen mishap, and then learning that my friend Terry Reid passed away, I was done. I tried to distract myself with some community service projects, which helped with perspective. But honesty, I spent a lot of time crying and feeling sorry for myself. On Sunday, I’d had enough of myself and the wallowing. I was annoying myself. So, I packed some essentials into a backpack and headed to out.
As I set out on the trail, I realized that I hadn’t really hiked alone in 20 years. When I lived in California, I went hiking every weekend. I was hiking to escape heartache because sitting amongst the redwoods I didn’t feel so alone. I could feel the heartbeat of the earth there. Sometimes I would hike with my cousin, where he would coax me on long uphill hikes by saying, “But the best view is just up there.” I learned during that time of my life that nature is not a luxury. We need green spaces to heal. Everyone needs green spaces to heal.
We all need to sit amongst the trees, no buildings in sight, no cell phone coverage, and just breathe.
Now, green spaces like that are hard to come by unless you drive up to Mt. Charleston. I had errands to run, so I decided to stay closer to home and sit amongst the rocks in Red Rock Canyon. I found a spot where I was embraced by the rocks and just sat there. The wind was light. A dragonfly buzzed by me. I could hear other hikers, but the trails were mostly empty. Probably the heat. I meditated. I released a lot of the doldrums into the rocks and the air. I shed more than a few tears. I drank it all in, along with my entire bottle of water, and then headed home.
Because I can’t always get all the way out into nature, I have been trying to find ways to bring it to me.
I started a flower garden in my front patio.
I have been propagating monstera for a few years now, and my living room, TV room, and bathroom are covered in them.
Since I don’t have to wear black clothes to work every day anymore, I have embraced a more colorful wardrobe.
Every surface in my house is slowly becoming blue or green lol
I walk through the walking paths in my neighborhood every day.
I’m trying to eat with the seasons
I buy myself flowers every week and then I dry them for crafts
I’m planning my next big adventure, so I immerse myself in other people’s videos of nature
I have, when I was sick in bed, taken walking tours on YouTube. Go to YouTube and type in ‘Positano walking tour’, and choose an adventure without leaving your home.
I highly recommend getting your National Park Pass. Oh, and go to this website to see all of the nature that surrounds you. When I need a quick fix, it gets me to the nearest hiking or walking spot to where I am.
Nature is not a Luxury. It’s a Necessity.