Do you consider yourself a naturephile? What do you appreciate most about being in the great outdoors? How often do you take time to blend in with natural settings?
Each Season Offers a Fresh, New Canvas to Engage With
Nature is my spiritual supplement. Chillaxing under the verdant canopy of a sycamore tree, imagining familiar shapes in the clouds floating across an azure sky, mimicking the song of a thrush whistling in the wood, yipping and skipping down a country road in the rain, and wallowing in a wave curl before it sloshes the shore. Ahh! I’m home!
Nature Inspires Great Conversation
Are you ready to plan an outdoor adventure? Sometimes nature is best appreciated in silence. No need to speak or seek – just be at home in it. But other times you may want to amplify your love for nature by sharing it with a friend – or making a new one.
I frequently like to use my alfresco experiences to expand my circle of friends. Where is the best place? Just about anywhere. However, some settings may be more conducive to nature chats. Here are a few examples…
Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall – Encourage Others to Laude the Land While…
- Parading your poochie pal through the park
- Pumping a new fall foliage hiking path with family
- Prepping your canoe for a cruise around the camp
- Taking the aerial tram to the peak of the ski summit
- Enjoying refreshments on a resort’s veranda during your annual vernal venture
- Stretching your muscles at rest stops on your cycle-for-a-cure tour
- Selecting the perfect Douglas fir at a Christmas tree farm
Of course, you don’t need to rehearse or stage an elaborate social engagement. Allow your passion for nature to organically guide you to start a conversation while running errands. Or warm up to people with a few icebreakers during your daily breaks and extended holidays.
Let’s Talk About Nature
Think about creative ways to introduce yourself to others and share your love for the natural world. Tell a little about your personal experiences and allow the conversation to take you on a beautiful journey.
You might pose a thought-provoking question. These three personal reflections may provide fodder for an easy discussion about your passion for the natural world.
“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.” — Langston Hughes
Would You Describe Yourself as a Pluviophile?
My nickname could be Pluvia because I feel a sense of renewed energy and mental clarity on rainy days. Writing. Cooking. Reading. My creativity comes pouring down. I’m like a thirsty flower quenched and quickened – my spirit revived.
Rain encourages peace and contemplation. And a stroll during a rare sun shower cleanses my soul. My mother and I used to thrill at the chance to go antiquing on rainy days. The memory of vintage scents inside the shops mingling with the fresh, earthy bouquet of petricor remains archived in the alcoves of my mind.
What activities do you enjoy on rainy days? Are certain memories enhanced in the rain? On damp days, can you think of ways to start a conversation about rain while standing in the checkout line at the grocery store?
“A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky. It tells us that in order to aspire we need to be grounded and that no matter how high we go it is from our roots that we draw sustenance.” ― Wangari Maathai
How Many Dendrophiles Do You Know?
As I prep this post, I’m perched on my porch surrounded by tall trees and mature bushes – the leaves spinning in the wind and the warm breeze teasing my hair. It’s hard to imagine a world without trees. Every day should be Arbor Day.
Trees teach us a lot about the miracles of life. Bask in their frondescence and imitate their rhythm during the change of seasons. There’s a time to sow and a time to let go. Dub me a dendrophile. Trees keep me grounded.
While in isolation during the first year of the pandemic, the trees on my walking path welcomed my embrace. They delight my senses year-round – a dramatic performance to savor every season. Shh! I’m tuning in to the wind’s mystifying verse rustling through the treetops and interpreting the comforting psithurism – softly whispering its secret message.
Have you ever hugged a tree? What trees inspire you? Do you have a favorite childhood memory involving trees? What brief anecdote could you share with an enthusiastic listener to spark a stimulating conversation on your next weekend getaway?
“The ocean is a mighty harmonist.” — William Wordsworth
Would You Be Open to Organizing a Community of Thalassophiles?
The ocean and I are one. I wish I could have engineered a career around lolling at the beach. My most memorable vacations were set at sea. All of my senses are awakened around the water. Sunrises and sunsets are intensified here. The sun sinking beneath a marmalade sky mesmerizes my mind and speeds peace, wonder and joy.
Powerful emotions flood my soul as the gentle, lapping waves enchant me in their sea-song. The velvety sand caresses my soles and bolsters my back as I recline on its mine of gold. The scent and taste of the ocean mist slowly saturates my senses with memorable treasures. Tag me thalassophile – sea worshipper.
How would you describe the ocean? When you plan a vacation, do you find yourself lured by water? Do any of your photo albums include beach images?
If you want to experience a piece of heaven, regularly plant yourself in nature’s nursery to ease your stress, lighten your heart and maintain your youthful spirit. Nature expresses itself in different ways every day. We just have to be receptive to receiving the gifts it offers. And nature loves to be appreciated. Invite those who value your passion to frolic in the forest with you.
What do you appreciate most about nature? What benefits have you enjoyed from your alfresco adventures? Is it easy for you to talk about the great outdoors? Why? Why not? With whom do you discuss your love of nature?
