Blogs about nature and self; communication; ACT therapy; and positivity, happiness and daringness

Experiencing Autumn in 3-S (senses)

10/30/2017

SIGHT - SOUND - TOUCH

As I sit and write this, falling acorns are pinging on the skylights, then rolling down the roof in bowling lane loudness. I stifle a laugh at how nature, how autumn won’t allow me to become an indoor hermit, as if to say “if you don’t come to me, then I’ll come to you!”

Now is the time to engage your senses in the all of autumn – sight, sound, and touch (the 3-S, the trifecta). Here are some ways to make this time of year come fully alive:

SIGHT

Pay attention to the changing leave colors every day – when is “peak” day(s)? You’ll only know by comparing today with yesterday, so you have to take a hard look each and every day.
Pay even closer attention, and you’ll see a peak day with a green background, and a peak day with a brown background. There’s usually a spread of 5 – 10 days between these two peaks.
Get up close and look at the leaves with the sun shining on them; then take a look with the sun shining through them.

SOUND

On a windy day, listen to the hanging-on leaves play their song as if castanets
Listen to the sound of dried leaves crunching under your feet. If the leaves are deep, intentionally kick them forward with each step.
Hear the winds whoosh through the trees as if a powerful spirit (Greek: breath = spirit, wind)

TOUCH

Go out in the woods and intentionally catch leaves in mid-air. Notice how difficult it is to determine the path of a wayward leaf.
Stand/sit still and allow the leaves (and perhaps acorns) to land on you.
Touch the tree leaves, the ground leaves to feel both life and death (and remember the cycle of life!).

Remember, autumn itself is an interactive sport!

Photo - Creative Commons (LABabble "Fall Leaves"

Let Me say This about That (the recent Solar Eclipse)

9/21/2017

The Middle Way

Had I realized the rarity of a viewable full solar eclipse, I would have made the effort to head to a reasonably close “zone of totality.” And, had I realized the frenzy of the marketing hype (and resultant crowds) that surrounded this eclipse, I would have ignored the entire spectacle!

Yet, I took the middle way (ah, the Buddhists would appreciate that!) – catching the 93% eclipse that was in my neighborhood, and inviting others to join in the experience. So what did I learn from this experience, exactly like it was?

What Really Matters

Surroundings matter – being at a state forest (nature) and with fellow friends/eclipsers (people) in addition to this cosmic event made it a trifecta of pleasure.

Cool glasses matter – being able to see sun-light/moon-shadow against a black background made for a surreal experience. I’m also glad that there are scientific people who somehow manage to get the timings and pathways correct so that we actually got to see what we came to see --- although the joke of it being a hoax does radiate chuckles when I think of our lemming behaviors!

Being fully aware matters – even though there wasn’t total darkness, there was the moment when the temperature and humidity dropped precipitously, with an ooh-ah reaction from the crowd. This was the awe moment where a moon that’s 239-thousand miles away and a sun that’s 93-million miles away conspired to change conditions on the earth; and I was merely a cosmic dot in the whole play. I also noticed the impatience of those around me – muttering about why they came so early, then taking quick leave moments after the highlight of a 93% eclipse. I stayed until the sun and the moon went their separate ways – then when I looked around, not only had I been merely a dot in the universe, I was now a mere dot in the now empty field.

Photo - "Solar Eclipse 198" by Rocky Raybell (Creative Commons)

Shinrin-Yoku Walks ... this is what it's all about!

8/8/2017

For those of you who want to get a better sense of Shinrin-Yoku ("forest bathing") before jumping in on a local walk, here's some articles that are sure to whet you appetite for these slo-mo, here-now, nature-self connection.

O: The Oprah magazine, "The New Nature Walk"

This article has a mention of the shinrin-yoku walks run here in Raleigh by Leslie Gernon.

Atlantic magazine, "How Nature Resets our Minds and Bodies"

This article explores how just seeing nature (as well as being in nature) has positive impacts.

Mother Earth News, "Your Brain on Nature: Forest Bathing and Reduced Stress"

A bit of science related to the healing effects of nature.

Outside magazine, "Take Two Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning"

Some more information on shinrin-yoku in Japan

... and, for those who want to know even more about the psychological and physiological benefits, please take a look at "The Science" page at The Association of Nature & Forest therapy.

Introducing a series of wellness walks: WELLtracks

8/7/2017

Beginning this fall, several different walks will be run in the Raleigh, NC area. To learn more, or to signup please visit WELLtracks on Meetup. These walks allow participants to take "deep dives" into experiences that promote wellness in their lives:

SHINRIN-YOKU WALKS

Shinrin-Yoku (AKA “forest bathing”) walks which are 3-hour strolls with minimal movement and maximal sensory experience – a real grounding and connecting (with your authentic self) experience. A 2-part series (3-weeks/series) is run each SPRING and FALL to teach different techniques – participants signup for an entire 3-week series. And, it is recommended that participants attend both 3-week series (i.e., Part I and Part II). At the end of the two-part series, participants will be so steeped in this practice that they can do this on their own. Prior to each 3-week series there is a standalone session to “sample” the experience which is open to prospective participants and the general public. All of these events are fee-based. These walks start Fall 2017. Fall 2017 will start with 3 sampler sessions ... the full series will begin Spring 2018.

ACT WALKS

ACTwalks is a 3-week (2-hours per event) series that teaches various ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) techniques – participants signup for an entire series. And, it is recommended that participants attend both 3-week series (i.e., Part I and Part II). Each outing starts out with a facilitator led discussion related to “psychological flexibility” including – cognitive defusion, acceptance, being present, observing self, values and committed action. Participants are encouraged to read and immerse themselves in “The Happiness Trap” by Russ Harris in conjunction with this group. A 2-part series (3-weeks/series) is run every SPRING in Northwest Raleigh/Cary. Prior to the initial 3-week series there is a standalone session to “sample” the experience which is open solely to prospective participants. All of these events are fee-based. These walks start Spring 2018.

TALK-&-WALK

Talk-and-Walk (T&W) is a 3-week (2-hours per event) series that teaches various wellness techniques (taken from psychology, spirituality and life itself) – participants signup for an entire series. And, it is recommended that participants attend both 3-week series (i.e., Part I and Part II). Each outing starts out with a facilitator led discussion, then we’ll head out for a short contemplative walk that incorporates the day’s topic. A 2-part series (3-weeks/series) is run every FALL in North Raleigh. Prior to the initial 3-week series there is a standalone session to “sample” the experience which is open solely to prospective participants. All of these events are fee-based. These walks start Fall 2018.

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Author

Leslie Gernon is an outdoor guide (i.e., shinrin-yoku walks, wellness walks, and labyrinth events), counselor
/therapist and group/workshop facilitator. She is located in Raleigh, NC.

Over the years of counseling others, trekking through nature, and immersing herself in psychological and spiritual teachings, she has found the "sweet spot" of a meaningful life: using communication that is both powerful and respectful, leaning into what is positive and affirming, understanding and using ACT techniques to enhance resiliency, and knowing that self-in-nature provides the needed space and quiet to let our authentic selves emerge.

She approaches writing (and working with others) from a place of being light-hearted, grounded and insightful; and, focuses on four areas that she's passionate about:

Caught in the ACT
Seeing how Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) tools and techniques can be used in our daily lives

Communication Bytes
Learning how our relationships can be improved by focusing on our thoughts, choices, actions, and words

Nature Rx
Exploring how to take the all of us (body-mind-spirit) out into nature through mindful /meditative walks to maintain /improve mental and physical health

PHD in Life
Understanding how to add Positivity, Happiness and Daringness into our lives for optimal well-being