“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” John Muir
One benefit of being home more is doing more retro-cool, down-to-earth activities as another way to spend quality time together.
Sometimes we read a book out loud to each other, and lately, we've been reading "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which has often made me cry as I read it aloud, and has also led to long, soulful conversations. It’s why it’s a book that’s been chosen so often for community reads through libraries and more.
But for us, reading it out loud to each other has been a powerful reminder that speaking of the words adds a whole other depth and dimension.
Round Two: Grounded in Place
It feels like a lot has changed since mid-April when I first offered Grounded in Place. Back then, it seemed that feeling grounded wherever we were was crucial. Now, as we venture out more, staying centered seems crucial. We are in need of practices to help us realign again and again, which must be why we call them practices!
Grounded in Place has 6 core practices I use in my own life. When I put them together for the challenge, they started to feel like this sweet little constellation of everything I tend to do to feel centered, grounded, creative, and focused. Perhaps this participant said it best:
"It's like getting out of your head, and in it at the same time."
Even just pausing for a moment to get connected to a place, can shift your mood and perspective:
"On my walk today, I was so much more intrigued by the colors and shapes and the variety of architecture. Normally I’m blowing past the same homes so focused on where I have to go."
These practices can't solve all the world's problems, but they can increase your capacity to deal with stress and add meaning to your life. They can provide you a moment's respite from the problems we're facing, and give you some tools for reflection and how to process change.
One participant shared in the Zoom call she was having trouble sleeping. She'd had many friends who've had parents die because of the virus. Doing the challenge gave her something new and exciting to look forward every day and she leaped out of bed to read the emails.
She ended up starting a project for the families that included photos, moments, and stories that were a really unique and touching way to hold and share memories. She told us:
"Now I sleep through the night and have been watching the hawks I noticed every day. I'm just so grateful for this challenge. It made such a difference."
So just like John Muir noted, connecting to outer places shifts our inner landscape. It helps us refocus. It's like a jump-start for the soul.
Sense of Place Tip: Get to know a place more to help you get to know yourself more.