Shaking it off
My initial idea for what to write about this week got shaken up a bit in the last couple of days.
Have you ever run across someone who is inexplicably unpleasant? You’re each just doing your job, but they choose to be a jerk, and when you try to meet that with professionalism, they ramp it up. I hope you have never had to deal with that, but it’s what I met with the last couple of days on a design project I’m working on.
The good news is that connection with nature helped me keep my equilibrium. How, you ask? Well, for starters, taking a walk in the woods was a good way to shake it off so I could respond professionally. I’m still really looking forward to being done with having to deal with that person, but at least I know they won’t get under my skin if I continue to stay centered.
Of course, that can be a big “if” when someone is clearly trying to push your buttons. So I will continue to haunt the woods to make sure I don’t let them succeed.
Speaking of which, here’s what I initially thought I’d write about:
Don’t you love it when you find a word that describes something that absolutely should have a word to describe it? That happened to me the other day. Have you heard of it? (I hadn’t, obviously.)
Nemophilist = one who is fond of forests and forest scenery; haunter of woods
(from Wiktionary.org)
To be honest, “haunter of woods” sounds way cooler than “nemophilist”. I’m proud to be a haunter of woods, and I hope you are, too.
So in addition to remaining a proud nemophilist, I’ll try to continue to be a calm, cool, and collected one. Let’s face it. Sometimes people suck. That’s a great time to head to the woods.
Nature through the senses
Scent:
There are quite a few scents believed to relieve tension and promote calm. A few include peppermint, chamomile, and lavender. Essential oils are a popular way to diffuse scents in a room, but I’m really partial to growing the plants themselves. This time of year, you can keep a potted herb in a sunny window to have it around when you need it.
Sight:
In celebration of getting out and walking to relieve stress, Prevention Magazine has a good list of 50 walks in nature that can be enjoyed in the winter (or late Fall, for the sticklers among us). The article is a couple of years old, but the list still applies.
Sound:
Another resource for listening to nature sounds is a series of recordings put together by the BBC to help people tap into the benefits of the sounds of nature. This one offers 10 hours of sounds of the mountains, so it can take you through a full work day!
Taste:
It’s the time of year for fruit and cinnamon, and my son reminded me this week of a dessert I made a few years back that turned out really well. The fact that it’s simple and easy makes it even better! All you need is sliced pears, cinnamon, sugar, and water. Simmer them together in a pan until they are nice and warm and spoon them over a slice of pound cake. It’s yummy and good way to make sure the pears are soft enough to eat.
Touch:
One way to bring natural textures into the home this time of year is through woven baskets made of natural materials. I’m a big fan of using natural baskets as opposed to say a plastic laundry hamper or serving bowl. A classic option would be fill a natural basket with greenery or Christmas ornaments as a seasonal decoration.
If you know anyone who might enjoy this newsletter, please forward it. And if you’ve received it and want to subscribe, you can use the button below.