Originally Posted by
FloraDora
Just an update on my pine cones for Christmas search .
I decided to ‘forest bathe’ after I had found a few. It is something that the Japanese do it seems.
It was really good, DH and I often walk in the woods with our cameras and we used to think looking for prospective photo opportunities made us look more at what was around us...and stop chattering. But I really found taking in the ambiance and not specifics helped today, we both came back more relaxed.
I left the camera behind, but not my phone but it was switched off.
The Grow Wild website suggested the steps to take:
Step 1 – leave behind your phone, camera or any other distractions, so that you can be fully present in the experience.
Step 2 – Leave behind your goals and expectations. Wander aimlessly, allowing your body to take you wherever it wants.
Step 3 – Pause from time to time, to look more closely at a leaf or notice the sensation of the path beneath your feet.
Step 4 – Find a comfy spot to take a seat and listen to the sounds around you. See how the behaviour of the birds and other animals changes when they become used to your presence.
Step 5 – If you go with others, make an agreement to resist talking until the end of the walk, when you could gather to share your experiences.
Not rocket science, but stepping away for half an hour was very relaxing. It did remind me of a LO I had who was not a chatterbox and used to just wander and take thing in on our walks, she was a very easy going, relaxed LO, perhaps I should have occasionally done this with the children.
Anyway it’s definately on my list to do next week too. Watching the birds was a particular delight.... just watching, not trying to see what it is through binoculars.