Go Outside!
And a favorite meditation.
Hello there.
There was a news item that said last week’s eclipse cost the US $700 million in lost productivity. I am not an economist but this seems very wrong to me. Did the number cruncher (who probably skipped the eclipse to do their snarky calculation) add up the time people stepped outside to witness nature showing off and come to the incorrect conclusion that it was a net loss? It’s not that the numbers are wrong, it’s that the person doing the math missed the bigger picture.
We experienced a moment of collective awe. I hope people left their stations and went outside to view the wonder in the sky. I would be willing to bet that they felt better and were more productive when they returned to work. Maybe they built camaraderie with their co-workers, or perhaps they had a more cheerful approach with customers. Where is the return on that calculation?
Extensive research has been done on the association between exposure to nature and health. It probably won’t surprise you that nature exposure has been found to reduce stress, improve concentration, lower blood pressure, and help with sleep. There is even evidence that just taking a break from our normal routine is healing. Adding in a good dose of nature enhances the benefit.
A few weeks ago, I found myself in New York City with a day free of obligations. I decided to take a morning walk through a favorite neighborhood with no particular agenda. I came away, twenty-two thousand steps later with plenty of stories from people-watching, but mostly feeling refreshed from seeing spring come alive after a long winter. There are so many beautiful oases all over the city. There doesn’t have to be a great big show to discover small delights. There are pockets of joy all around you.
A daily walk can be a reminder that this world is full of miracles waiting to be noticed. I hope you have time to get outside this weekend with the sole purpose of seeking joy. I also hope you take ten minutes to check out this week’s meditation- it’s a good one.
This is one of my favorite meditations. I hope you like it too.
Making Space For Things That Matter
Have a joy-filled week!
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have something on your mind.
xx Page