Have you ever just needed to get outside in nature, blow off steam, exercise, and regroup? I feel like if I were in a classroom right now with all of you, you’d all unanimously raise your hands and say “Yep!” Today was one of those days for me. I was trying so hard to be productive and sit at my desk and get things done that have been pending on my ever-growing checklist of “things-to-do” but as I sat and stared at that list, I became more restless and anxious. I didn’t know where to begin, and my head was spinning with overwhelm. My habit over the past 5 years would be to just double down, drink more caffeine, and force myself to do what I inevitably was not able to do (at that moment) and to not listen to my intuitive sense that this was not how one shows compassion to oneself. Yes–there ARE times when you need to just get it done. But today, I recognized my longing to be outdoors in nature and be open and receptive to my intuitive sense- that voice that’s been calling my name, whispering to me so lovingly over the past few weeks to care for myself and show compassion to myself. Especially with Daylight Savings Time messing up my sleep/wake cycle this week and with the coming of Spring Equinox next Monday the 20th of March, there’s an additional incentive for me to heed my inner voice’s nudgings. This season (Spring) is a great time for decluttering and detoxification. There’s a reason why people always feel the urge to do “Spring Cleaning!”
So, I ate some breakfast, packed up a few things, grabbed my mountain bike, and hit the road. I drove all the way down to Pueblo, CO to go for a solo mountain biking ride. And it was EVERYTHING I needed. It was Self Care, it was Compassion, it was Communing with Nature, it was connecting with Self. The body and mind and emotions all benefited from the bike ride. I saw my plant friends: the jumping chollas, prickly pear cacti, yuccas, sage, and juniper trees. It felt like my entire body, mind, spirit, and soul were getting purified and cleansed!
As I rode past the Juniper trees, my body gently brushing up against them, I could smell their scent and felt immediately relieved of all my pent-up worries and stressors. Juniper is strongly protective and dispels negative energies and removes impurities from the mind. It has been used in smudging practices around the world as a potent cleanser and assists in meditation to help with focus and concentration. Juniper has been long used in detoxification of the body as well, as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, carminative, disinfectant, stimulant… and it’s a bitter, which is one of the reasons why it’s such a strong healer and digestive aid!
The elements played a huge role today as well. I paid attention to the rays of the Sun, gently warming my back as I rode my mountain bike up and down the winding single track, and I gave thanks to the Sun for illuminating the path before me and bringing warmth and light to my being. The wind played soft music through the dried sagebrush and Juniper trees, whirling around me playfully encouraging me to go with the flow. I gave thanks to the wind for reminding me that I can shift my perspective, just like the wind can shift at a moment’s notice into another direction. Wind is also very cleansing, and I noticed the sensation of the breeze blowing over my body, carrying away that which I no longer wished to carry, allowing me to feel more light, like the wind itself. The Earth beneath my mountain bike wheels was solid..firm, and supportive. I gave thanks to the Earth for giving me a foundation to stand on, and reminding me I am always supported.
You see, the elements of nature and the plants and trees (and animals) are our allies. We are so incredibly intimately connected to nature, yet in our society it can feel like we have become disconnected. This constant need to be productive and to show one’s worth can be incredibly stressful and that can promote dis-ease in the body/mind/spirit. We are meant to live within the cycles of Nature. Sometimes, I just need a little reminder. Today’s solo mountain bike ride brought me back to equilibrium. We all can do this! So whenever you are feeling Nature’s call (and I don’t mean this in toilet lingo haha!) we should stop what we are doing, get out in Nature, and play! I honestly don’t always have to go so far to get out in nature. I feel better even when I walk a lap around the park, which takes ~20 minutes. Remember also that at times of Seasonal changes such as the Spring Equinox, you may be more in need of Nature. It’s a cry from within to give yourself a compassionate time-out. You’ve all been working so hard, I know! It’s 2023…And the work continues…! When we listen to our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls and tune in to how we’re feeling, we will know exactly what we need for our Self Care. Maybe for you, Self Care and Compassion may look like going to get your hair done, or making a cup of tea. As we learn to listen and heed our voices calling and practice self compassion, it will provide us with an abundance of joy and gratitude in this lifetime.
