She is Wild
Every day nature continues to humble me.
It shows me the duality of life. The continual dance of opposites: light and dark, joy and grief, expansion and retraction. I don’t claim to have it figured out, but I do feel much more able to cope with life thanks to the lessons that nature has taught me.
During June, the Wildlife Trust runs its annual 30 Days Wild challenge. The idea is to encourage everyone to make a little more time for nature throughout the month (and beyond).
It can be anything, no matter how big or small, from getting out in the garden a little more to enjoy your surroundings or taking action to create wild spaces for nature like bug hotels. You’d be surprised just how many ways there are to engage with the natural world around us, as well as the untold benefits to our wellbeing both physically and mentally.
As an animal lover – and I know lots of you reading this will resonate with this – any wildlife documentary has me gripping the sofa, shouting at the TV “please God NO, NOT THE BABY DEER”, and yet people tell me that nature is good for my mental health!
They are right, but when I went seeking comfort in nature, I didn’t find a fluffy, ‘positive-vibes only’ support. I found unfiltered honesty about my place in the world and how nothing will ever just be plain sailing, forever remaining the same, and that to fight against that will make you more unwell in the long run.
I like to write poetry sometimes when I’m feeling inspired, and nature always inspires, so I’m sharing my latest piece here as part of the #30DaysWild Challenge. I’ve been writing poems like this for years and never really realised they were ‘poems’. Then I read some of Megan Fox’s book Pretty Boys are Poisonous, and this is the exact same format she wrote her collection of poems in, and so that gave me some validation I guess, in that what I wrote and how I wrote had a place and that maybe I should share it more. So here it is!
I’m the worst for feeling like I don’t have enough time day to day. Lord only knows how my friends with children fit literally anything in (I salute you).
With that in mind, I’ve suggested some things we can do together for the 30 Days Wild Challenge, especially crafted for those of us who are short of time or generally always on the go!
Grounding and observing
You can do this wherever you are – my mum does it over the park while walking the dog, so she inspired this one. Close your eyes and listen to what is around you, you don’t need more than 30 seconds for this (but obvs you can do longer if you want!). What can you hear? Birds? What type of birds do you think they are? Are there trees or plants rustling nearby?
Take a deep breath here and appreciate the sounds of nature you notice.
Benefits: Appreciating what is around you, feeling grounded, taking a reset in your day.
Little rituals
Do one thing that encompasses a daily ritual you already do. For example, have your morning tea whilst walking around the garden looking at what insects or birds are around, or eat your lunch in a local park or nearby nature friendly area (for city people, yes this can just be near a tree!).
Benefits: Gets you moving, brings your awareness to where nature is near you.
Make an impact
For those who have the space/ability, do something good for nature: plant wildflowers, litter pick, or create an insect hotel out of recycled natural materials (pinecones, twigs, etc).
Benefits: nature will love it!, you’ll feel a sense of achievement and get to enjoy being outdoors while you do it.
Learn something
The less obvious option, but very valid. Have you been wanting to read an article or book about fungi? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to identify native tree species. Whatever it is, watch the YouTube video, read the book, take the e-learning course if you can. This all contributes to the 30 Days Wild Challenge.
Benefits: you’ll be upskilled in something you love, you’ll apply that knowledge for years to come which will inevitably benefit the natural world around you.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and feel inspired to join me in doing something wild every day in June. Below is a gallery of some magical moments I have found in nature, either out and about, or in my own garden.
You can visit the Wildlife Trust’s website for more information about the challenge here.
