Finding joy

In nature and a desperate need for calm and simplicity

Hello fellow joy seekers,

Apologies that this post is a little later than usual (or perhaps early for this week!)

Over the last week I’ve been thinking about nature and what it means to me, after a picturesque Autumn weekend in the Cotswolds.

I grew up in the countryside, I spent a lot of my childhood outside in our garden or on bike rides and was lucky to have friends with farms we could visit and yet I think it took for Covid to make me look at time outside in nature in a completely different way, almost as though I was seeing “nature” for the very first time.

For the first three months of lock down from March to June 2020, I didn’t leave my home or garden. I was too scared to go out for a walk for fear of what I might bring home. So we stayed and enjoyed endless picnics and time in the garden at home. During that time I held the most wonderful Mid Week mindfulness classes on line with the help of some incredible women who would take us on different mindfulness adventures each week. During this time I met Clare who created the most magical healing experiences with her guided meditations, from the confines of my home I would be transported to the forest to the point where I could feel, taste, and smell the forest and all she was describing. Those moments were incredibly sacred and unlocked something deep within me. For that period of time I was free.

I still remember the first time I went to the forest once I felt a little braver to venture out, my daughter and I went early one Saturday morning when all was calm and quiet (my favourite time of the day) and I could have cried when I stood under the magnificent trees feeling tiny in their presence and feeling the full power of nature seeping in to every ounce of my being. I felt such a giddy excitement that morning and it hasn’t left since. I truly fell head over heels in love with nature.

I spent almost the next two years visiting my favourite nature reserve multiple times a week, I couldn’t get enough of the freedom and the calming impact being in the forest provided. I still feel it now. If ever times are hard the nature reserve will always be the place I go to calm my mind and body. I will never again take for granted the freedom I have to explore as and when I choose and how lucky I am to have a body that transports me on such adventures.

I love watching the seasons change, and photographing nature, it’s such a wonderful way to truly be in the moment to notice all of the small changes going on around us that so often get missed as we charge from place to place. Spending time with children in nature is also a wonderful reminder to really slow down and take in the wonder of it all too.

This year I’ve been taking part in the 1000 hours outside challenge, I’m close to almost 700 hours so far and my adventures have lead me far and wide and pushed me to try things I perhaps wouldn’t have done otherwise. Most of my core memories for this year are of adventures I’ve had in nature. I cannot get enough of the way it makes me feel it really is intoxicating. Next on my list of things to try is forest bathing. I’m not sure if I will make the full 1,000 hours outside this year but I know that I am so thankful that I have tried for how much it has positively impacted my life and that I will continue to take part in next year too.

So all of that was a very long winded way to share the things that have brought me joy this week;

1. A weekend spent in the Cotswolds which looked utterly splendid in the Autumn sunlight, the trees a glorious technicolour of oranges, golds, yellows and blazing reds. Autumn truly is a beautiful spectacle. And reminder of the beauty found in letting go and embracing the change that lies ahead. I feel it has very appropriately coincided with my own desire to let go and the period of change I’m currently experiencing.

2. 1000 hours outside podcast episode 364 Rekindling childhood passions that you put away.

I’ve just finished listening to this wonderful episode and I knew straight away I needed to add Mary Jo Hoffman’s book “Still the art of noticing” to my collection because it really spoke to me. Mary Jo’s passion and ethos is just so inspiring. I’d highly recommend listening to this episode.

3. Still The Art of Noticing by Mary Jo Hoffman

So of course I promptly purchased said book and can confidently say that this is without a doubt one of the if not the most beautiful and inspiring books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading and enjoying. Just the very title “Still: The Art of Noticing” is beautiful. I feel so inspired to not only start my own creative project but with my mind whirling with ideas of what and how that could look like. Mary Jo’s passion for nature and noticing all of the beauty, possibilities, changes and opportunities for creativity is something to be truly admired. Spending time in nature and truly noticing all of the tiny changes unfurling every day really makes me excited. It speaks to my love of time outside and of the joy I find in constantly stopping to photograph trees, plants, flowers, leaves, twigs and the endless possibilities each and every time you embark on an adventure. It is truly making me feel so excited to think of how I too could carve out space each day for creativity.

We’ve recently removed screen time in our home during the week for our daughter and it’s had such an impact on her creativity, instead of mindlessly staring at a screen she now reaches for her pencilcase and happily sits immersed in her creativity and it’s such a joy to observe and has also made me think about how I too can not only be more creative but also model less screen time and more creativity too. Now we are coming into the cold, darker months the thought of spending a Sunday afternoon together at our kitchen table being creative side by side in our own ways feels incredibly appealing and something I am determined to implement. I genuinely feel excited by the prospect, the thought of a new crisp white sketch book, some watercolours and photos of my discoveries that week has made me feel so excited.

4. Wintering The Power of rest and retreat in difficult time by Katherine May.

I am only 64 pages in so far and I already know this is going to be a book that stays with me long after I finish it. I also know a book is going to be an important one when I find myself folding the corners of all of the pages where the words really struck a chord with me. This is already one of those books. It very much speaks to my need to find calm for my body and mind and couldn’t be better timed.

“Doing those deeply unfashionable things - slowing down, letting your spare time expand, getting enough sleep, resting - are radical acts these days, but they are essential. This is a crossroads we all know, a moment when you need to shed a skin. If you do, you'll expose all those painful nerve endings, and feel so raw that you'll need to take care of yourself for a while. If you don't, then that old skin will harden around you.

It's one of the most important choices you'll ever make.”

5. Discovering Box Bush an incredible artisan deli/ bakery in Bourton-on-the-water - a small stroll from the house we stayed in and it was such a delight to stroll into town and to enjoy the most delicious treats whilst feeling the Autumnal Sunshine beaming on my face. A real moment of filling up my joy cup. (So much so we visited three times in two days!)

6. Retreating into my bed earlier each evening and lighting my candle and enjoying my new books. The perfect way to welcome in the dark nights and embrace some Hygee elements into my evenings. (Another part of my plans for the coming few months is to finally finish my Hygee accreditation!)

7. And a slight contradiction to point number six but having a Halloween party with my oldest friends and all of our children together, was a really special moment. Baking treats and hosting brings me so much joy.

Life has been about finding calm in my days so there hasn’t been much running, spinning or weights recently but instead more walks and slow yoga practices. I’m trying to tune into what my mind and body needs at this point in time and not beat myself up for not “doing more”. I know this is just a moment in time and I am keen to reintroduce some weights back into my routine again soon. I just need to re establish my routine again and half term doesn’t feel like quite the time for that. (What with hosting multiple Halloween events and the parenting/ working juggle) but next week is “back to school” for the last half term of 2024 and I am keen to embrace some new rituals and re introduce my fitness classes and to end the year with a new sense of calm and peace. (Which is also approaching the busiest time of year so it’s going to be crucial to find peace and calm in a time that can very quickly feel incredibly overwhelming.) So that is my goal. Obviously I will be continuing to seek out the joy because that too is a very integral part of my journey ahead.

So here’s to November and a new month of possibilities and surprise, play, wonder and joy and a heavy dose of calm too.

Until next week!