What Nature Teaches us About BEing Present
Hello community,
How are you with truly BE-ing, remaining in the present?
As we know, focusing on the future often stirs up anxiety.
Focusing on the past can intensify sadness, longing or regret.
It’s a constant practice to BE. HERE. NOW, isn’t it? Some days are easier than others and some stimuli make things so much harder than others.
Our depressingly lean snowpack in the Upper Left USA has presented challenging trailheads for me the past few months--such an appropriate word for outdoor applications! For winter sports lovers, the snowier the winter the better. So when winter has yet to arrive, I vacillate between trying to embrace the dry roads and mild temperatures that offer unexpected, magical foggy bike rides and sweet walks along the river with relatives who flew here to ski-- while a constant, gnawing chasm in my belly and my heart howls with climate anguish, “We broke our planet!”
Snow lovers keep waiting for enough snow to enjoy beloved winter activities. The five ski areas in our region have been closed entirely or only partially open until yesterday—generating significant financial and emotional impact on everyone dependent on snow sports to get us through winter. Low snowpack levels also have a huge impact on environmental factors like a decreased water table, increased risk of forest fires later this summer, etc. Our existence and our mental health is intimately interconnected with climate and weather.
I try to hold both sides of the continuum (accept climate change vs. be anguished and immobilized by it) with patience and openness. I try to acknowledge what IS and ask my responses to not overwhelm me. I try to welcome the weather and the snow conditions we are given, recognizing we have no control over when or if enough divine snow will be gifted the mountains for us to ski. Erik and I try and embrace the creative challenge of choosing what form of recreation CAN we enjoy this weekend and where? And accept whatever that is.
And it’s really hard.
The rhythm of hiking, skiing and biking helps my parts unblend. Bilateral stimulation in Mother Nature is my go to for emotional regulation and restoration. My conscientious, hard-working Managers relax most fully when I’m in the wilderness. I get space from my parts. I get to listen, interact with and explore my internal world for hours while I explore externally--our symbiotic relationship! I uncover so much more clarity and calm than while juggling details indoors at my computer desk under life's pressures.
Moving my body outdoors is my oxygen. My parts and I can’t survive without it. We can’t work without it. We can’t be in relationship without it. Yes, it is a bit of a deal breaker and I’m constantly balancing what my parts need and what is truly realistic in terms of my other responsibilities and loves. (e.g. Erik is out adventuring right now while I commit to finishing this and sending it before half the world tunes into the Superbowl!)
Finally on Saturday (yesterday), enough new snow had fallen to enjoy a full day ski touring in the silent woods. Ski touring (aka backcountry skiing) is when you ascend wearing climbing skins that grip the snow, stick to the bottom of your skis and are removed for descents. It's magical technology, and you have to earn those views!) To say I savored every snowflake is an understatement. The clouds were magnificent, I got to apply sunscreen for the first time all winter and couldn't stop smiling.
And now with the gift of snow, we shift into a state of enjoying it without compulsivity to consume as much as we can now before it melts--HURRY!--or make poor choices to chase powder, push past fatigue or risk injury.
The undulating road balancing and accepting what is and what we hope for continues.
I hope you're finding balance and peace in being present with what is here today, and receiving divine gifts without attachment when they are unexpectedly given. Thanks for joining me on the journey. I hope you'll continue to do your part to walk gently on our precious Mother Earth.
Wishing you Self energy and nature's gifts until we connect again!
in health,
