Hello Everyone....

I love nature and I find it very helpful in helping me in healing way..when I’m not in a good head space...I was wondering if others feel the same and am hoping that you might share your piece of nature, whether it’s a small patch of grass in your back yard..somewhere that you drive to, to just relax, somewhere close to you that you walk amongst...and if you have really taken the time to listen, watch, feel, smell, the wonders all around us..

I love nature..the trees, flowers, creatures both big and small, it’s my solitude place, a place I go to when things are getting to hard for me..

I am lucky, I have this huge gumtree which I found out about recently...
It was planted around 70 years ago by a local here when she was a little girl, and living in the house I’m now living in...About 5 years after she planted it, a strong wind with rain blew it down....A few of the locals saw her trying to stand it up to replant it...and they came to help her...and successfully managed to replant it....Today it’s easily over 60feet tall and just as wide, the trunk of the tree would need 4 people to hug it by joining hands..
The tree stands in front of my place and in front of the paddocks across from me..which the owner has some Angus cows, which love to lay under the tree....Birds are everywhere here, and a few use the tree as their home..

I sit outside for hours sometimes, watching the birds come and go for food and water I have supplied for them in bird feeders and bird baths....It’s a beautiful and peaceful way to relax watching and feeling what Mother Nature has provided for us...
For me it’s both calming and healing...

Do you have a piece of nature around you...and how does it make you feel when you take the time to just look and take in the wonder of it all....

We would love to hear about how nature helps you...and do you find that it can be healing for your soul...

Kind and caring thoughts everyone..

Grandy..

Hi Ggrand

Thank you for this thread. The story about your gum tree was amazing, I felt like I was standing out the front of your place with you!

I live across the road from the sea and the beach is my go to place for grounding. I always walk barefoot, so I can enjoy the connection with the earth, just near the water's edge.

What I love is the surprise of seeing the colour of the water when I arrive. It can appear gun metal grey, green or deep blue depending on the time of day, weather and lighting. And nothing beats just sitting, closing your eyes and listening to the sound of the waves.

My local beach is a bit of heaven on earth and it feeds my soul and lifts my mood on every visit.

Kind thoughts to you

Hello Grandy, a beautiful gumtree and does the bark look as though it's turning right?

Before our divorce, people used to just sit on a massive porch I'd built and look over two towns plus the mountains behind where the weather would change within a few minutes, it was quiet, peaceful and not a sound, that's what I miss, although happy that I don't have to chop wood, but now if I had to, it would be impossible due to physical health.

Take care.

Geoff.

I definitely like nature. Being amongst it sort of helps me feel alive. And sometimes refreshed.

Many times I may be just sitting out in the sunshine, because I do like that warmth of that soaking into me. As long as its not burning. Anyway as I am sitting I may notice ants. Ants that are always busy, some carrying a particular tiny bit food or even a sick ant it its jaws. Often the food is bigger then the ant. If there are a few ants they may follow the ant in front of them on the exact same trail. If they meet up with any coming back on that trail they may stop. I often think they are communicating in some way together, but I don't really know. They then part ways and of they walk, each in their own direction.

Hey Summer Rose

I also like going to the beach, it's my happy place. And yes I know what you mean to walk barefoot in the sand. The feeling of the sand on the bottom of your feet just feels nice.

Hello Summer Rose, Geoff, Shell...

I needed to find out about the gumntree..it’s caught hold of me in a way I can’t explain...It’s just so beautiful to watch..

Summer Rose..I love the sound of you beach..We used to travel to Orient Point, then walk up to the abandoned light house, and sit on the bench which was high above the ocean, and listen to it as it crashed onto the rocks below..the sound is so relaxing...We would sit their to have lunch before we headed back down the steps, through the jungle and then barefoot in the water just where it breaks on the sand...I really miss the beach..but I love the country just as much..

Geoff...While I’m sitting on my front veranda, I have mountain ranges in the not to far distance..a few times I’ve actually seen and heard the rain coming across from the mountains to mine..Watching and listening to the rain before it reaches my place is awesome..I live on the back street of town..no traffic..it’s beautiful and quiet..except for the birds..

Shell...Ants are fun to watch..they are so busy collecting their yummies to eat...even though they rush here and their..they are still very calming and good for grounding and bringing us into the now...

Thank you all for your lovely posts and sharing how nature helps you...

I have always believed that nature is our gift for God...and if we care for it and really look, listen, feel, touch and smell all it has to offer us...It helps us in many different ways...

Please share what nature means to you..and if it helps you in anyway..

Grandy..

Hi Grandy
What a wonderful Thread topic! I love what you posted about the gumtree...You do have a kind soul to articulate that as well as you have! Was it a Redgum?

I love the parrots and birdlife in my yard and find peace watching them and their ability to communicate

Nice1 Grandy ✔

Paul

Hello Dear Paul..

Thank you for your kind words...

I wasn’t sure of what the gum tree is...It is a mountain gum..the leaves smell of Eucalyptus...and in late spring/early summer it rains of the time fibres of the creamy coloured flowers...

I am so happy that you have parrots and birdlife in your garden...Our council encourages us to have bird baths around here..in summer a lot of birds die from heat exhaustion...which is so sad....

Do you have a bird feeder/bath in your yard..I know many city suburbs don’t encourage it all....

Take good care of you Paul....Your a huge asset and valuable on the forums and in real life...You have a very caring and kind heart...

Grandy..

Hello Grandy,

Thank you for this thread. Nature is certainly beautiful and healing.

As I write this, I'm sitting next to my window (as I always do). It overlooks a walking trail that's full of beautiful trees and a little pond. I love watching the ducks in the pond and the cockatoos that fly from tree to tree. Recently, a magpie has taken to attacking my windows. I haven't had much luck stopping it so far, it's very, very determined. I think of it as a silly little pet now and say hi whenever it comes by. It's calming to have so much nature by my side.

Cheers,
M

Hello Emmen, and everyone...

Magpies are strange birds, they hang around the area for years if they are happy their...Maybe Magpie is trying to get in through your window for some pats...

Where you live sounds so beautiful and peaceful...Ponds are full of wildlife...Do you ever go down to the pond, sit and feed the ducks?...

kind thoughts everyone..

Grandy..🌲🌸🦋

Hello Grandy,

My "pet" magpie came to attack my window again. I asked it if it wanted some pats but it flew away. I think it prefers my window's company to mine!

I go to the park every day but I don't feed the ducks. I like to watch them, they're really cute, floating around in the water! Sometimes when the ducks aren't around, I've seen some owners let their pet dogs swim around in there too. They look so happy in the water that it makes me happy too.

Cheers,
M

Hi Emmen

My husband's grandmother loved magpies and she used to feed them bits of bacon. Consequently they loved her back!

I enjoy their warbbling but am a bit skittish of them, especially this time of year.

Could your maggie be attracted to a colour in your room or colour of an article of clothing you're wearing?

Kind thoughts to you

I haven't been doing well lately but saw this thread & thought it might help to remind myself of the effect of nature. I like birds & animals to look at from a distance but I'm not comfortable too close but plants, & natural beauty definitely help me. With the current restrictions I miss being able to go for a walk without worrying about how long I take & how far it is from home.

As a child in England every Sunday my dad took us to a park with a lake & beautiful gardens. I remember watching the swans float on the water & the lovely plants. In the afternoon My parents took us to a different park with a lake with ducks to feed & sloping lawns to run around & roll down. After coming to Australia we would escape from the migrant hostel on the weekends & holidays. A favourite spot was Warburton with the river flowing over rocks & lovely trees overhanging the river. I think those early experiences have primed me to feel peace & a sense of belonging in similar environments.

After talking to my psych recently we decided I needed to spend time in a park with a lake. Unfortunately it is outside the 5 km limit so I have a letter from my psych to carry to explain why I need to be there. Even though I identified the place as the most suitable without going too far over the 5km limit when I went I was surprised at how it affected me even when I was really stressed. Walking along the edge of the lake seeing the sunset light up the clouds & shine on the water seemed to calm me down. Around the lake are thousands of trees

This thread has reminded me how important it is for me to seek out those places which lift me& take the time to stop & look at the flowers, clouds, water, rocks or clouds & feel the breeze or warmth smell the flowers or fresh air & listen to the sounds. Maybe this will help me to recover

Everyone

in my old house I really liked the lizards they were all sizes and they used to come out the front at night and play.

A big lizard sat near me while I put my washing on the line. I used to talk to him.

Hello Elizabeth and everyone...🤗..

I am so pleased that you found this thread and it’s helped you to remember what nature is capable of doing to our souls...

I woke yesterday morning early enough to see the sunrise...it was so beautiful the golden sun rays giving the darker clouds a silver and golden edge to them...As the suns rays shone through the leaves of the gum tree..it gave it a magical appearance...The birds began flying around and singing in the new day just as the sun rose...A new day for every living creature on earth starts with the sun rising...

I think a lot of people are so busy with their lives, that they probably haven’t even looked at any trees, they see them daily but never look at them...even the clouds people see them yes...but do people look at them, the different shapes they form are constantly changing in the sky, the way they peacefully float around in the sky...

There is so much more to nature then just a place in between getting to and from work, or shopping etc....

Taking the time to appreciate and really look at nature is a natural and beautiful way of grounding ourselves in a busy life..

Grandy...

When I'm travelling I like to take photos. This forces you to concentrate on what you are seeing & makes you notice the things which make the photo special. I have a photo i took several years ago of a canyon in the rocky mountains in Canada. It was taken following a blizzard so snow sits on every flat surface contrasting with the black rocks where the snow has slid off vertical surfaces. In the background are tall trees against the grey sky. I love the photo because of the lovely patterns the snow makes against the rocks. It is in my lounge so it can bring back happy memories of that beautiful place. Another photo shows white fluffy clouds reflected in a lake surrounded by green vegetation also reflected in the water. Of course photography doesn't have to be restricted to holidays.

Gandy your mention of people not noticing clouds reminded me how taking photos have helped me in the past notice more details too often missed.

Hello Grandy

Yes I put in birdbaths when this house was built 30 years ago....The other bonus with birdbaths is the magpies here in southern vic chase out the Indian minors :-)

Thankyou for your wonderful heartfelt compliment too Grandy x

Paul

Hello Paul and everyone...

I am pleased that you have birdbaths at your home...I often watch my birdbaths/feeders for some mindfulness practise...You’re Welcome Paul..They are words said in truth..

I had to look up Indian minors...I wasn’t sure on them..We have minors out here in central NSW, but they are common minors...and don’t cause territorial trouble...

The King Parrots have returned after a few month of disappearing...I think they fly up to Queensland in the colder months..It takes me a while to be able to hand feed them...Well worth the effort though...

The other day I saw a very big Blue tongue lizard sunning itself on the road...Unfortunately many drivers out here don’t look out for the wildlife on the road...I stopped and scared him off the road, I don’t know who got more frightened the lizard or me..they can look scary when they hiss at me...at least it was safe when I left it..

Kind thoughts everyone..

Grandy..

Hello everyone...

Today is beautiful..blue sky, white fluffy clouds with some different shades of grey under, around, in the middle and on top of them....

I was sitting outside this morning just looking over at the mountain ranges..noticing that the air was so clear today, I could actually see the gully’s running down the mountains..and the trees very clearly....

Bringing my gaze back to the cows in the paddocks..and seeing them munching on the grass..some sitting some standing..I noticed heaps of tiny white butterflies fluttering around..they seem to be hatching from the Pattinson’s curse weed..such a beautiful weed with striking deep tall purple flowers...I noticed that the little butterflies were fluttering around in groups of two..flying up a little bit together and twisting around each other and doing the same on their way down...they reminded me of fairies doing ballet happily around the beauty of the flowers...

A few even fluttered across the road to my front yard..The more I looked the more I seen..like drifting snow with the sun out...They took me away from my mind and into a small magical world...When I headed back inside I was surprised to find out that I was watching the butterflies for more then 1.5 hours...I felt relaxed and calm...

Has nature help anyone in feeling calm with some peace inside your soul?.

If so it would be beautiful if you can share your experience with nature..

My kind thoughts with my care..

Grandy..🦋🌹💭🐛🐜🕷🕊🌱

Dearest Grandy, what a beautiful thread and wonderful posts to read too!

I had to read them all lol and enjoyed every single picture.

I'm immersed in nature. I use my laptop on my balcony where I look out to the bay over my trees and a beautiful BIG gum tree too! We see kookaburras in the old gum tree lol and the other night one of my children saw a silhouette of a Brush Turkey way up high, as high as she could go, in the gum tree. It was awesome to see. The cockies love it too lol. Cheeky things.

The gum tree is shaped like two lungs and if you try, you can see it also forms the shape of a HEART! I LOVE it.

When some city slickers moved into our street 10y ago, they tried earnestly to get it cut down...
I said if it dies prematurely I would dob them all in to Council...
It's still alive and houses so many birds.

We have bird baths and also dare I say it... snake and lizard drinking spots. Low flat dishes in spots around as the snakes and lizards are often very thirsty too.
It's a little disconcerting to see one all of a sudden, better seeing her slithering away lol.
But they can't help being snakes, so I love them too.

We live in a "treehouse" lol... the balcony is almost 3 stories high and we're at the top of the trees. When the wind blows we can hear the branches and leaves rustle and I love this... it's the third home I've lived in like this and I don't want anything differently.

But for the first 5y or so here, it sounded like men were jumping on our roof at night.
It was scary until I worked out it was the Brush Turkeys making their way back to the bush by hopping from roof top to roof top and having the odd scuffle on the way lol.

It'll be interesting to see what adventures in nature this Summer brings.

I hope it's many wonderful memories in the making for all of us.

Love EM

Hey Dear Ecomama,.

Your place sounds beautiful....To live in a treehouse would be so much fun...I imagined you climbing up the tree on a ladder..entering your home by the little trap door built into the floor....shutter windows..candles for light..nature for music..and an abundance of crops growing near by....Lol kinda like Tarzan...how cool would that be...

I lived in the city all my life up until 10 years ago....When H finally got what he thought he always wanted..a home on acreage..he still wasn’t happy....but I was, I fell in love with our daily visitors of kangaroos, owls, lizards, rabbits, and bird life...but I couldn’t enjoy it because H didn’t...

I sold the acres after H died and things went wrong with my little shop....and moved into a tiny village..my home is opposite grazing land..and a huge Eucalyptus Gum Tree...Which I often cross the narrow road to hug...yep I’m a tree hugger and it does feel good...I have no one else here to hug..so why not a tree....(only God can make a tree)...I love trees, they are uniquely different from each other..just like everyone and everything else..I am happy to hear the tree wasn’t taken down...

Your Brush Turkeys sounds like a lot of fun to watch and have giggle...Kookaburras are beautiful..I have a young kookaburra that visits me often...Magpies that trust me with their babies...Oh the king parrots ..I can hand feed...they are so cute...Aren’t the cockies funny the way they hang upside down and swing themselves back and forward....

I feel lucky that I have nature around me..and am able to sit outside when things get to overwhelming for me....then I let nature help heal my soul....Nothing else can heal our spirit or soul except nature itself....That’s what it’s their for...for us to look, listen, feel, smell and taste her wonders and beauty..

My kind thoughts, lovely ecomama....with a hug 🤗.

Grandy..

Dearest Grandy, BIG hugs to you too!

I feel exactly the same way about nature. When you observe nature, it is healing.
Breathtakingly beautiful.

We have this huge bird I thought it was swooping each night as I sit on my balcony typing away on BB lol... I hear its wings flapping and I think it must be catching its dinner!

But then my eldest daughter was here a few nights ago and she thought it was a big bat.
Then my son thought so tonight too...

Tonight we saw TWO of them. But it's so dark, we can't quite make out what type of flying creature it is... or they are lol.
Nonetheless I'm so happy they are finding a home here.

A real life treehouse would be a dream house for me!
Just like Jane in Tarzan or just like Tarzan even lol!
Leaving out the swinging by vines though.

Before we got our rescue dog, I fed fruit every night to possums on our balcony. Sometimes they would grab fruit from my hand. So many times I would get excited seeing a swollen belly and once a little baby poked out from his mamas pouch and grabbed some fruit too! lol. TOO CUTE FOR WORDS.
Then I see the mama possums carrying their very big babies, almost as big as their mamas, on their backs.

We have lots of soft fruit trees, and lilly pillies with berries, so the wildlife love to eat from my garden. I'm grateful they have that since so much habitat has been removed.

I'm surprised to hear you lived in the city until quite recently Grandy! IDK why I thought you were a country girl through and through, maybe because you have such a deep appreciation for nature.

I also hug my trees and pat them and thank them too. Someone wrote they hugged a tree on the self-care thread lol... how beautiful is that!

And why not too, loving nature is self-care, it feels that way.

Love always EM

Dear Grandy

There are a couple of things I do to get in touch with nature which I find really healing and calming.

The first one is to head for the beach with my little dog. I just love the sounds and smell of the sea breeze and collecting tiny rocks and shells. Getting sand between your toes is so therapeutic. I laugh at the antics of my dog playing in the shallows and thoroughly enjoying her new found freedom. I also love the sun kissed smell afterwards on my skin.

The second one is to go fishing with a local community group. It is so relaxing down by the estuary, river or jetty. I always release the fish, but I really love seeing the fish close up with their amazing colours and shimmering scales. Many are so beautiful.

Anyway I always am uplifted after doing both these activities. Life feels good!

Thanks for the thread Grandy I have really enjoyed reading all the different stories.

With love Jojo 🐠🎣🦀 🐚 🐶

i love nature and space - i'm finally starting to enjoy the area i live which is rather urban - but from my street there is a beautiful view over the city- it makes my heart sing. when the sun is setting accross the buildings - i can really see the curved horizon from my wide street.
I also love to sit outside on the stoop of my apartment and watch the street - and feel the wind on my skin
I drink a tea and take it in

I used to think the neighbours would think i'm weird but they've actually starting copying me
"Saw you sitting there yesterday, thought it was a good idea..." said my neighbour today, downing a glass on wine while sitting in my lovely sunny spot

Hello Grandy, definitely a lovely thread and yes, it certainly does.

I could sit and watch a waterfall that cascades its way by making a deep plunge and wonder where and how it all began, and the volume of water and where it's going to end up, just beautiful.

During my marriage, I built a large deck in front of the house, but still adjoined, where it overlooked the towns, mountains and watch the weather change within a few minutes it was priceless, I certainly miss it now.

My best.

Geoff.

Lolol Sleepy21, I hope the ppl bring more to your peace sitting on the stoop with a cuppa lol.

Our view is so important.

Decades ago I was posted interstate and had to find a rental very quickly, like in 1 day lol!

The little ancient home I rented faced a 4 lane, fast street leading into the city.
The back step faced a car yard and the back fence backed up to a warehouse.
The only nature was in my garden... once I could "see" it.

I didn't know anyone there.

In the afternoons and on weekends, I would lay on my couch and when I put my head down low enough I could see JUST the tops of some trees. They were palms of all things in a very cold climate, a long way from the beaches of home.
THAT was perfect.

I would see that and close my eyes, imagine the sounds of waves crashing on the beach, imagine the waves lapping on the side of my grandparent's boat, remember the the deep water over the side of the boat. I could block out the sounds of traffic this way and my imaginary nature soothed me.

EMxxxx

hi Em - thank you for that b eautiful testament to the healing power of nature

even the tops of the trees hey?

a few years ago i went on a holiday with a friend to byron

It was a disastrous holiday lol everything went wrong including bumping into an abusive ex boyfriend there (what?! in byron bay) and our accomdatin being weird and not comfortable.

But i did like this little private beach we had beside our apartment - and my fave was the moment where you walked on the street on the dirt path, pushed back a large tree - and hidden behind the tree - once you pushed it aaway - was this beautiful peaceful beach. I loved that. I like how nature can appear and bring brightness unsuspecting.

Like those beautiful tree tops you could find view of.

Hello ecomma, Geoff, Sleepy, Jojo and everyone..

Just reading your beautiful stories are calming...

Sleepy yes that is a great feeling when we first smell, hear and see the beach..it has an automatic calming effect...

JoJo..I went fishing a few times and caught a flathead..I also released it..once on a boat we hired I caught one of those Puffer fish..it scared me and I threw the line and all in.... f.i.l. wasn’t happy with me because he had to get the rod out of the water..😂..That was the last time I went fishing..but I used to sit and watch others on the beach fishing, dodging the beautiful sea gulls..

ecomma....When I was a young child...and living in the metropolitan area of Sydney....and things weren’t going very well..I used to hide behind our bbq, lay down and watch the clouds, floating along the sky..I like the way they change shape..sometimes from a cloud that looks like a dragon into anything my imagination saw...I used to imagine I was riding the clouds and they took me to different peaceful worlds...I still do it today when I lay on my couch on the veranda..I’ve even gone to sleep with my imagination and clouds...They really are so peaceful and beautiful to me..very similar to you and the palm trees..my imagination is my saviour at times..

Geoff...I have never been up close to a large waterfall..but I can imagine the beauty of the water falling over the edge..especially when the sun is out..the water would sparkle when it fell...Where I live I can see a mountain range...sometimes when I am lucky I can see the rain falling there..then not long after if it’s raining heavy I can hear it as it comes my way... it really is awesome to see..and makes me feel so much a part of the magic, that nature offers us...

Thank you all for sharing how nature effects you...It brings a calmness to my mind and body just by reading your beautiful stories..

My kindness and care everyone..

Grandy..🕊🦋🌹🌱🐛🐜🕷

Grandy I felt really sad that you have never been close to a large waterfall. I hope you can go to one soon. There is something special about them. The mist on your face, the roar of the water rushing over the rocks and the sheer beauty of the falls as well as the vegetation around. Being close to fresh water means there is usually very lush vegetation nearby.

A couple of weeks ago I was feeling stressed and upset so I drove to a park nearby . I then walked down to the lake & found a concrete path jutting into the lake with big rocks at the end. I walked to the end & sat on the rocks & tried something I'd heard of but I'd never done before to calm myself. I looked around for 5 things and really concentrated on them looking at the details. Looking into the clear water & then noticing the ripples reflecting light, I saw lovely clouds in the sky & the rock I was sitting on had lovely patterns from the grains in it. I then felt 4 things. The concrete had a very different texture to the natural rock. I bent down & felt the cool water & then the wet rocks below the waterline. I then listened carefully and could hear a few different birds, frogs & the rippling water & then a splash as a duck landed in the lake. I took my mask off & smelt the lovely fresh air. By the time I was half way through I felt so much calmer but really enjoyed going through the rest of the process. I'm not sure if I did it properly but who cares it worked for me!!! Really heped me forget about my problems and enjoy nature noticing things you normally glance past

Dear Grandy

Sorry but your encounter with the puffer fish and how you reacted made me smile. Though it is perfectly understandable as they are quite scary. I recently caught one and it swallowed the bait and hook as well so we had to cut the line to let it go! 🐡

Maybe some day you will have another go as it is just so relaxing being near water. There are plenty of ‘nice’ fish to catch!

love Jojo