Rest is an integral part of life.
Hibernation and estivation* are normal parts of the year in animal lives. And every autumn, deciduous trees shed their leaves and prepare for winter. None of the living creatures have a maximum pace throughout the whole year.
In the human world, rest is often still undeservedly perceived as a sign of weakness or laziness. Rest is an integral part of our day, our year, our life. By finding balance in our life, we help our body and mind live longer and better.
Living in the present.
Worrying about the future and rewinding the past like a videotape, instead of cherishing this moment, here and now – our wildlife doesn’t make this mistake. We humans often do.
Accepting the unknown.
Fear of the unknown is so often the one thing that keeps us where we are now. It tells us “here” is better than anywhere else and “this” is the best we can be – searching for anything else is dangerous because it is unknown.
I still have a lot to learn and accept, and watching how wildlife lives is healing. Seeing baby turtles rushing into the water – into the vast, dangerous, unknown sea; seeing my dog readily pushing her head in the thick bushes, not knowing if there is a snake inside.
Fear doesn’t have to disappear. Curiosity just has to be greater than fear.
It is okay to show unpleasant emotions.
So many people adore the sea. But if you’ve ever experienced a sea storm, you will know that its strength can be terrifying. Still, we haven’t stopped loving the sea because of it. High waves, whirlpools, and thunderstorms don’t make it unlovable.
It is okay to feel sad or angry or frustrated – and to say it out loud. We are sentimental beings. Showing unpleasant emotions doesn’t mean that I am bad. Showing sadness doesn’t define me as a sad person in general, and showing frustration doesn’t mean I am not usually happy with my life. Things aren’t black and white, they are mostly grey. To me, embracing my shadow* means showing others that I’m not always calm and mild-tempered – without fear that they may think badly of me.
Events are often neutral, but we give them meaning.
Our perception affects how we feel and look at a specific situation. Events are often neutral, but with our interpretation, they can become bad or unfortunate. If you’ve ever watched a documentary with topics about nature, you’ve probably seen a predator hunting its prey. Most of the time, the predator is shown as a “bad guy”, and its prey an unfortunate victim, with sad or dramatic music in the background. In fact, a carnivore hunts to survive the day, to prolong its species, to feed its cubs – not because it is bad or because it wants to hurt others. Our perception, our interpretation from a human perspective sees this event as tragic, instead of neutral.
With this in mind, it becomes easier for me to look at things with more peace – not only documentaries but many more situations. Tram delay, tire burst, rain on a wedding day. If I can interpret something as bad, then I can work on my perspective and start seeing things in a better light. I can find a reason for many things to be seen as at least neutral – if not, in a way, good.
My being belongs to nature.
I feel so much better in nature, breathing fresh air, near the sea or in the mountains, than in the city. Creativity blossoms and ideas come much easier. Living closer to nature – physically and metaphorically – also has a positive effect on my health, from eating fresh food from the garden instead of highly processed food, to naturally increased physical activity because of a completely different way of life.
Listen to your instincts.
Animals rely on their instincts so much. On the other hand, we humans mostly lost our connection with our instincts. The first step to listening to our instincts is learning again how to hear them at all.
We are stronger than we think.
The strength and resilience that can be seen in the natural world sometimes seem unattainable to us humans, as most of us are not adjusted to life in extreme conditions. But when I was faced with stress and effort more difficult than I thought I could handle, I found strength in myself that I didn’t know existed. I think that everyone has that same strength and courage, even if it’s currently hidden somewhere inside, waiting to be found.
Gratitude.
Recent storms in Croatia showed us how little we are compared to the force of nature. One moment we have this feeling of control and predictability, the other moment we can see how things change within minutes, right in front of our eyes. Although we are stronger than we think, life is fragile and fleeting. This thought is what helps me put things in perspective, it helps me to be braver and more grateful.
After every rain comes the sun, peace comes after the strongest of storms.
It is incredible how nature seems peaceful after a storm. Soft sunrays, birds chirping, everything becomes so quiet and calm, as if nothing happened. The same thought can give us strength in life – even if the present is tough for any reason, there comes that moment when soft sunrays shine and the storm falls behind.
Things I learned from nature – and still do. What about you?
*estivation – a dormant state during the hot and dry part of the year
*shadow – a term in psychology that denotes the parts of yourself that you reject. Good book about it: Debbie Ford – The dark side of the light chasers, reclaiming your power, creativity, brilliance and dreams.