What's on your wish list? How about a little self-care all wrapped up in nature

Lovely little Pond in Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle washington. © Rebecca Bailey 2021

Earlier this fall as I wandered through the gorgeous Washington Park arboretum in Seattle, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. It was an early Saturday morning, the skies were dry, the park still quiet, and I was with my daughter, her husband and their sweet dog. This year the fall foliage was absolutely stunning. Every turn revealed another burst of color. Brilliant leaves of Japanese maples, sumacs, and sourwood lit the wooded and wide open spaces. Not only was I grateful for all of the fall beauty and my companions, my outlook was expanded—excited about things to come, even though I didn’t have a clue as to what that might be.

There is a science behind the way I felt, which you can read about here. The short scope is that nature has a natural energy that is uplifting, healing, and sustainable over time.

My wish for you as we move into the busy holiday season is to slow down and spend time in nature so you, too, can tap into that uplifting, expanded feeling. We’ve all heard it before, you must nurture yourself first, (speak your truth, be true to yourself, put yourself first, express yourself honestly…ok I digress here, but I think you know what I mean), before you can feel empowered, and show up in the world with love and compassion for others. These are cliches because they are true! But many of us are not wired that way.

So this year give yourself the gift of self-care all wrapped up in nature. I’ve added some links below that offer simple ways for you to indulge.

Powerful daily habits - You’ll stay strong through the holidays with these simple activities

Get Grounded - If you’re feeling a bit off from all the hustle and bustle, this easy grounding technique will get you right back on track

How to meditate in your backyard - Melt away the holiday frenzy in ten minutes with this lovely outdoor meditation

Get those steps. How to keep walking when it’s cold outside—this is a great way to down-shift during a busy holiday schedule

Create your own morning ritual. 15 empowering daily rituals for you to choose from that will get your spirit soaring

As for me, Washington Park Arboretum is offering a Forest Bathing walk on December 18, 2021 from 10-11:30 am. This is definitely on my wish list. Click here to link to Washington Park Arboretum Forest Bathing event details and to register.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for being part of this Nature Me community!

If you want to join me for the Forest Bathing walk in Seattle’s Washington Park arboretum, email me here.