Week Thirty-Nine: The Generosity of Nature

After an all-too-rare snowfall recently, I found myself enchanted by the snow on the sides of trunks and branches of the bare trees and boughs of evergreens on my walk across Central Park one morning. As I drank in the beauty all around me, I was reminded of the immense generosity of Nature’s beauty – gifts we can discover on all sides, if we pay attention.

For this week, I invite you to take some time each day – if even for the briefest moment – to notice a gift of Nature somewhere in your environment. You may discover a beautiful scene, an unexpected fragrance, or delightful birdsong. Whatever you encounter, take a moment to really soak it in – slow down enough to truly connect with your experience.

You may discover that at times it’s the smallest and most subtle thing that captivates your attention. At other times, there may be a grand vista in front of you. Some of your discoveries may be indoors, in a vase of flowers or a potted plant, and others may be outdoors in a park, garden, country or seashore scene.
Also, in honor of wholeness, also notice aspects of Nature that may initially be unpleasant or in some way repulsive. What’s it like to recall that the wisdom of Nature – the ecology of life – operates on the basis of diversity, where every life form and element of Nature plays its role in the overall health and well-being of the whole.

As always, there’s no “right” way to do this experiment. Simply allow yourself to notice the gifts of Nature in whatever ways they come into your awareness.

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