 Ready to hit the trail? Fall is a great time to kick it up and gain the many health benefits of hiking. Build stronger leg muscles, breathe in the fresh scent of pine, and get your heart pumping. Always check with your healthcare provider if this is a new activity to ensure you are healthy enough to partake in this exercise. If you want to make your hiking experience more enjoyable, here are three pieces of equipment you may want to consider purchasing:  Merrell’s Moab Hiking Boot: BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/3X90t5E These super popular hiking boots are great for easy-to-moderate hiking. They are sturdy and waterproof.  Collapsable Trekking poles BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/3MvvBaz Looking to add some stability to your hike. These best-selling trekking poles are collapsible and easy to assemble. Note: If you have arm or neck issues or previous injuries, check with your healthcare provider before using.  Water is ESSENTIAL when hiking. Who wants to carry a water bottle? This backpack includes a water bladder that balances the water's weight and allows you to take a sip and quench your thirst as you need to via a straw. Water Backpack: BUY NOW: https://amzn.to/4cLOaSp See you on the trail!
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 Do you have plans for the weekend or want something different to do? Something relaxing and restorative. Something that may help you feel less lonely and more connected, even stimulate some creative ideas that lie beneath your surface.
Here is a nature connection exercise that you can try. Imagine yourself in a tranquil corner of nature, where the only sounds are the soft rustling of leaves, the melodious chirping of birds, and the gentle flow of a nearby stream. No man-made sounds. No planes, trains, automobiles, shouting, music, or leaf blowers. Just pure, unadulterated tranquility. This space outside our doors may be more challenging to find than you think. Scientists and others are now searching for and documenting these man-free sound sanctuaries. If you decide to try it, go outside and search for the 'rawest' nature you can find. This is nature untouched by man, a rare and valuable experience. Pause, maybe sit comfortably in this space, and listen. What do you hear? Is it nature-made or man-made? Close your eyes and listen. Maybe take a few deep breaths to relax into the experience. How do the various sounds feel in your body? When you open your eyes, take a moment to reflect on this experience. If you have a pen and paper or a notes app, jot down what stirred within you during this exercise. This reflection is a vital part of the process, as it allows you to fully embrace and understand the impact of the nature connection exercise. Many of us who take the time to get to know our natural world more intimately find that developing a relationship with Mother Nature has several benefits. Feel free to share yours in the comments below. Ready to go deeper and develop a harmonious relationship with Mother Nature that will help you lead a more joyful, vibrant life? I now accept women and small corporate retreat applicants for my upcoming Unearth Your True Nature Programs. Contact me to learn more and secure your spot.  Photo: Greg Rokozy, Unsplash Ask any mother with more than one child what her greatest wish is, and you might find her saying, “that all of my children get along and love each other.” So, why should Mother Nature be any different? Recent extraordinary, breathtaking events have led me to ponder, “Could Mother Nature be orchestrating these to prompt us to unite in a world that is rife with conflict and division?” Science tells us that when humans experience events that trigger a feeling of awe, they can unite us, recognize our collective humanity, and humble us. During the recent solar eclipse in the United States, millions came together to witness the moon cross before the sun. In a beautiful display of unity, many donated their special glasses to causes like Astronomers Without Borders, who then shipped them to teachers, students, and astronomy lovers. If you were lucky to witness the sky light up and dance with brilliant colors during the geomagnetic storm that impacted the northern hemisphere last weekend, congratulations! Social media flooded with photos of iridescent colors in several countries. People spend thousands of dollars to travel to see the event that many had the chance to experience in their own backyard. Photos: John Dean We don’t have to wait for the next jaw-dropping show Mother Nature decides to put on. We can join together, discover the wonder, and revere the gifts the natural world shares with us. For example, during the Pandemic lockdown period, friends and I made a point of going out and enjoying the full moon at the same time even though we live miles from each other. We would take a picture of the moon from our vantage point. We even went as far as to put a water glass out to capture the moon's energies, an ancient practice believed to cleanse and charge our souls and support intentions. It was fun and made us feel close during a difficult time.
Are you looking for other ways you, too, can tap into the nature-loving collective? How about going on a whale watch, growing flowers and then sharing them with friends, or simply enjoying a sunrise or sunset with a loved one? Mother Nature continually offers us opportunities to feel part of this glorious planet we call home. Do you have a way that you like to connect with the natural world? Please share it in the comments below.  Lush green lawns, once a sign of prestige and luxury, are now viewed as environmentally unfriendly and toxic. As awareness grows about the research linking weed-killing chemicals like glyphosate to cancer and other illnesses and the need for more native plants to help support wildlife, property owners are taking action by unlawning.
Removing grass and replacing it with other options has many potential benefits, in addition to decreasing toxicity and helping our pollinators and other critters. It can help promote biodiversity, which studies have shown enhances our well-being. It may also save money and time. Looking for ways to jump on this sustainable trend? Here are four: Create a Vegetable Garden: Imagine the joy of harvesting your own homegrown tomatoes. Section off a sunny part of your lawn, till the soil, add some compost and a fence if needed, and fill it with your favorite veggies. To learn more about how to get started, check out the Healthy Green Thumbs video series. Make Yourself a Nature Sanctuary Do you yearn for the soothing sound of water running over rocks or the shade of a tree on a hot summer day? The possibilities for creating your own tranquil space are endless! Designate a section of your property as a quiet space and add natural elements that will bring you joy: a water feature, a bird feeder, an Adirondack chair, some trees, and seasonal perennials. You don’t have to do it all at once. Make it a hobby. Ask for gifts that will add to the serenity of your special place. Add a Forest Do you love the color of fall foliage or the magnificent blooms of spring? Plant trees that offer color and accent the seasons. Enjoy watching the trees mature and provide birds, squirrels, and other wildlife homes. Go Native Plant some native plants amongst the lawn and let nature take over. Plants commonly considered ‘weeds’ may start growing, providing essential nutrients to bees, and some benefit people. Take a class to learn how to forage and create teas, tinctures, and more with plants outside our doors. Are you excited to learn more about how you can live a more joyful, vibrant life in harmony with Mother Nature? Sign up for my free seasonal e-newsletter on the homepage of TheNatureNurse.com . |
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