Beautiful photos of where you walked, I liked learning about the Japanese words, I'm in love with the hearts your making, and we're watching Muster Dogs upon your recommendation. I noticed an interesting thing last night while watching the episode: the trainers don't call their puppies by their names while the pups are in training, unless they know the pups will come to them. I had to think about that for a bit, and it makes sense. We're also going to check out what else you're watching - thanks for the recs!
just back home from a spot of forest bathing, it's the best isn't it....actually i think the smell of salty, seaweedy, rough seas is actually better for me, but the bush is a close second. I grew up on the beach or playing in the bush so both places hold special parts of my heart. I love the colours and patterns on the forked tree trunk in the foreground of one of your photos. I love that other older cultures than my heritage have words to describe the benefits, clearly they are much more aware of the importance and benefits.
We are watching Muster Dogs as it airs, but gosh I want to binge and see how it all ends. Also watching Darby and Joan and I'm liking it, it's easy, it causes no upsets, it's just wholesome and sometimes that's what I want, something that soothes and calms rather than pokes and jabs.
Here's to another week of love, kindness and tolerance
We’ve been away for a month, holidaying in cities and I’ve so missed being surrounded by barely tamed nature. Parks and gardens provide a green respite but nothing is quite the same as the wilds!
Very beautifully written: I could feel myself relaxing just reading it. I never understand people who walk along in tranquil life-giving surroundings like the forest near me or even our local park with their eyes glued to their phone.
Wait: 16 degrees is COOL where you are? That sounds like a heatwave to me.
A beautiful read, Prue. I found nature to my solace when trekking through the deep undergrowth of grief. How everything seems to make sense when we stand back and see ourselves as part of the bigger picture...and detach ourselves from the bothers of life.💙🙏🏻❄️
Oh Prue, this is wonderful. The tree ferns are gorgeous - my parents had a Dicksonia Antarctica (we called him 'Dickson' for short, for plants are people, after all) in a sheltered part of their garden for years, but sadly it's no longer there.
I love the idea of forest bathing, and am enthralled by your fascinating Japanese references. Fabulous!
A gorgeous, thoughtful post, Prue—I loved every word! I will be reading this one many times over.
The lovely Japanese concepts were a very timely reminder for me—today, I’m leaving our peaceful woodlands for a week, going to a smallish but very busy and loud town. I’m storing up lots of forest bathing vibes for my time away!
This was a beautiful peaceful piece. You captured all those lovely concepts into the way you described them, through both words and photos. Lovely, lovely. Am currently enjoying the coastal/ocean version of bathing this week as we spend time at one of our favourite California coastlines. It's not all play, but the hour or so each day we spend fully embracing the waterline is so restorative. As is the balmy temperature! Can't wait to see which of your recommendations are available in the UK, once we return. For now, we are off all TV and streaming and it is a great break as well. Thank you for providing a well-written piece of joy and calm! Good luck with terrier rehabilitation!
Gentle. Thoughtful. Connected to something beyond ourselves. Thank you, friend, for the imagery and encouragement. I think you know I had my own shirin-yoku experience last fall, which was marvelous. (https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/go-there)
Alas, it's winter here now, and my work schedule is all meetings and conferences, and I've fallen out of practice again. We are not so cold as to make being outdoors miserable. There are no excuses. I wish I did not let myself slip out of the habit so easily!
Last but far from least, my deep gratitude for the mention here, particularly among such masterful writers (you included). I'm honored, Prue.
As always so much synchronicity to report yet again! This piece was so interesting and I absolutely marvel at your pics - it's a fauna like no other, isn't it? (Bit alarming about those snake fellows though ...) I love Jules as well and enjoyed his YouTube very much - and regarding the series you mention, I have not yet seen BUT I lived on the Isle of Man myself when my parents took an early retirement there! I look forward to reading your writing very much each week and yes! I am truly going to wade into the Substack pond as well very soon ... You inspire me - and those felt hearts are gorgeous as well. The most gentle of hugs to That Terrier as well.
Lovely piece and pics. Nature as a meditation, a cure.. so true. It always helps.
Have you seen Live to 100; Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix? They visit cities around the world where people mysteriously live longer than average. One of the places is Okinawa. The Japanese are onto something. Great documentary.
I share your ikigai. Learning about all sorts of things, which is why I had such a difficult time figuring out what to be when I grew up. My interests were so varied that I couldn't settle on one as a career path. It took many years but I eventually earned a degree at the age of 50! I thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of college courses I took, everything from Biology/Physiology to Women Writers to Sociology...a true Liberal Arts education!
And don't feel guilty about not reading/writing so much...you're busy doing other important work. I've reached the point of not pressuring myself about things I didn't get done. I do the most important chores for that day and then I take time for my personal projects (reading, writing, volunteering.) I do what compels me and today that was a new project for 2024: art journaling. I plan to include these wonderful Japanese terms in my notebook, so thank you for introducing them to us.
I’m now subscribed to Jules Hudson’s YouTube channel. Thanks for that. Nature is so powerful. Thanks for all your beautiful insights. Hugs dear Prue.
Beautiful photos of where you walked, I liked learning about the Japanese words, I'm in love with the hearts your making, and we're watching Muster Dogs upon your recommendation. I noticed an interesting thing last night while watching the episode: the trainers don't call their puppies by their names while the pups are in training, unless they know the pups will come to them. I had to think about that for a bit, and it makes sense. We're also going to check out what else you're watching - thanks for the recs!
just back home from a spot of forest bathing, it's the best isn't it....actually i think the smell of salty, seaweedy, rough seas is actually better for me, but the bush is a close second. I grew up on the beach or playing in the bush so both places hold special parts of my heart. I love the colours and patterns on the forked tree trunk in the foreground of one of your photos. I love that other older cultures than my heritage have words to describe the benefits, clearly they are much more aware of the importance and benefits.
We are watching Muster Dogs as it airs, but gosh I want to binge and see how it all ends. Also watching Darby and Joan and I'm liking it, it's easy, it causes no upsets, it's just wholesome and sometimes that's what I want, something that soothes and calms rather than pokes and jabs.
Here's to another week of love, kindness and tolerance
We’ve been away for a month, holidaying in cities and I’ve so missed being surrounded by barely tamed nature. Parks and gardens provide a green respite but nothing is quite the same as the wilds!
Very beautifully written: I could feel myself relaxing just reading it. I never understand people who walk along in tranquil life-giving surroundings like the forest near me or even our local park with their eyes glued to their phone.
Wait: 16 degrees is COOL where you are? That sounds like a heatwave to me.
A beautiful read, Prue. I found nature to my solace when trekking through the deep undergrowth of grief. How everything seems to make sense when we stand back and see ourselves as part of the bigger picture...and detach ourselves from the bothers of life.💙🙏🏻❄️
Oh Prue, this is wonderful. The tree ferns are gorgeous - my parents had a Dicksonia Antarctica (we called him 'Dickson' for short, for plants are people, after all) in a sheltered part of their garden for years, but sadly it's no longer there.
I love the idea of forest bathing, and am enthralled by your fascinating Japanese references. Fabulous!
A gorgeous, thoughtful post, Prue—I loved every word! I will be reading this one many times over.
The lovely Japanese concepts were a very timely reminder for me—today, I’m leaving our peaceful woodlands for a week, going to a smallish but very busy and loud town. I’m storing up lots of forest bathing vibes for my time away!
This was a beautiful peaceful piece. You captured all those lovely concepts into the way you described them, through both words and photos. Lovely, lovely. Am currently enjoying the coastal/ocean version of bathing this week as we spend time at one of our favourite California coastlines. It's not all play, but the hour or so each day we spend fully embracing the waterline is so restorative. As is the balmy temperature! Can't wait to see which of your recommendations are available in the UK, once we return. For now, we are off all TV and streaming and it is a great break as well. Thank you for providing a well-written piece of joy and calm! Good luck with terrier rehabilitation!
I loved the word "ukiyo." It has a soft, gentle feeling - something like mindfulness, I guess.
Gentle. Thoughtful. Connected to something beyond ourselves. Thank you, friend, for the imagery and encouragement. I think you know I had my own shirin-yoku experience last fall, which was marvelous. (https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/go-there)
Alas, it's winter here now, and my work schedule is all meetings and conferences, and I've fallen out of practice again. We are not so cold as to make being outdoors miserable. There are no excuses. I wish I did not let myself slip out of the habit so easily!
Last but far from least, my deep gratitude for the mention here, particularly among such masterful writers (you included). I'm honored, Prue.
As always so much synchronicity to report yet again! This piece was so interesting and I absolutely marvel at your pics - it's a fauna like no other, isn't it? (Bit alarming about those snake fellows though ...) I love Jules as well and enjoyed his YouTube very much - and regarding the series you mention, I have not yet seen BUT I lived on the Isle of Man myself when my parents took an early retirement there! I look forward to reading your writing very much each week and yes! I am truly going to wade into the Substack pond as well very soon ... You inspire me - and those felt hearts are gorgeous as well. The most gentle of hugs to That Terrier as well.
Lovely piece and pics. Nature as a meditation, a cure.. so true. It always helps.
Have you seen Live to 100; Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix? They visit cities around the world where people mysteriously live longer than average. One of the places is Okinawa. The Japanese are onto something. Great documentary.
I share your ikigai. Learning about all sorts of things, which is why I had such a difficult time figuring out what to be when I grew up. My interests were so varied that I couldn't settle on one as a career path. It took many years but I eventually earned a degree at the age of 50! I thoroughly enjoyed the wide variety of college courses I took, everything from Biology/Physiology to Women Writers to Sociology...a true Liberal Arts education!
And don't feel guilty about not reading/writing so much...you're busy doing other important work. I've reached the point of not pressuring myself about things I didn't get done. I do the most important chores for that day and then I take time for my personal projects (reading, writing, volunteering.) I do what compels me and today that was a new project for 2024: art journaling. I plan to include these wonderful Japanese terms in my notebook, so thank you for introducing them to us.