I was brought up in Donegal; surrounded by fields, stunning beaches, mountains, sheep and cows. Breathtaking views…
Now, If you asked me about the Atlantic Coast when I was a teen (dying to move away from the place) I would have described it differently… Something along the lines of ‘it’s so boring and I really can’t wait to move to the BIG city’. Oh yes I loved moving to the big city at 18, for college, work, meeting new people, the nightlife and all that jazz. I had a great time (the mountains, beaches, sheep – not a second thought was given)
The importance of the outdoorsand appreciating the ‘simple things’
Here I am writing a blog post about the Atlantic Coast of Ireland, older and wiser (ok, that might be debatable) as I’m visiting my family for a few weeks and it’s been over a year since I was last home (Covid wouldn’t allow and I now live in England)
Seriously though, I look out at the mountains every morning, I walk the beach every single day with my hubbie and girls (you can always wrap up) and I breathe in that fresh air.
I make sure I instill the importance of the outdoors and it’s beauty to my little girls as they grow. They absolutely love the outdoors (I love watching them skip through the fields like little lambs) There is nothing like a walk in nature to blow away those cobwebs. How I took it all for granted when I was younger…
Muckish Mountain ❤Girls enjoying the hens, ducks and geese at my cousins farmHappy out at the beach 💖💖Muckish is always there ❤Moo I love walking the beach at sunset…Stunning 💫Tory Island in the background and still surfing/paddling at 9 pm My other half soaking it all up ❤💛
Take yourself outside and soak it all up… It’s the simple things in life and nature is always there. It really is good for the soul.
Haiku
Fresh air clears the mind
Warming the soul, the outdoors
Soaking up those views
Thank you for reading my post – have a beautiful day and fill up those lungs with plenty of fresh air. Go on, get that jacket on and go for a good brisk walk ❤
As it comes to the end of ‘mental health awareness week’ (mental health foundation UK – a very worthy foundation) and its promotion on connecting more with nature, I reflect on the importance of this awareness. I feel a strong connection to nature and it is so beneficial to my mental wellbeing – especially throughout these uncertain times that ‘you’ and I find ourselves in. I’ve connected vastly with the outdoors throughout this pandemic.
It sounds so simple and it is: stepping outside, soaking up the outdoors and all that beauty – while getting a good blast of fresh air in the process! I know the thoughts sometimes seem harder than the actual doing! But ‘you’ start to reap the benefits from doing so…
Onto that lovely word called ‘kindness’
I shared the following poem about being kind as one of my first blog posts (I’m 2 months blogging now, so still a newbie 😉), and I’m sharing it with you again. With it being ‘mental health awareness week’ I think ‘kindness’ is so important and how a little bit goes such a long way. Its one of the first poems I wrote when I first started writing poetry during this pandemic.
Poem:
Thank you, it’s nice to be kind
A gentle smile, a heartfelt word, clears the cloud from my mind: lifting me out of the darkest of places ‘thank you’ it’s nice to be kind. A little text with those words ‘I’m here’ travels the length of the earth – the racing mind slowly calms from every word and its worth.
In a world portraying so much anger yet still has so much beauty – spreading kindness every day is undoubtedly everyone’s duty. Be kind you say, how hard is this in a world with so much confusion? kindness helps one another, without the fear and intrusion.
To someone in need a simple hello or even a chat over tea – is the greatest gift for a person to thrive and also to somewhat feel free. A withered flower blossom’s again and is no longer blind. Lifting me out of the darkest of places, ‘thank you’ it’s nice to be kind.
– Bernie Egerton June 2020
Kindness is so easy
Little gestures – heartfelt words
The ‘kind’ that matters
Connectwithpoetry.com
Thank ‘you’ for taking the time to read my post 💖🙏. Be gentle and kind with yourself; may it be filled with lovely walks/jogs/cycles (whatever you enjoy) kindness and surrounded by the beauty of loved ones and nature 🌲🌱🌻
Have a beautiful day and keep smiling – you’ve got this 🙏💫
Do you feel a sense of connection to nature?
Soaking up the beauty of nature 🍃Family 💖 – outdoor adventures with our busy bees 🥰💖💖
Some days you think “I’ve got the hang of this new lockdown way of life”, then others you think its difficult. Missing your family, friends, a fun day out, and even a trip to the hairdressers (goodness, my roots are very ashen looking these days!) All the things you take for granted. Going out for a good blast of fresh air to blow off those cobwebs – really helps your soul. I love going for a walk, soaking up the outdoors and snapping a few beautiful nature pics along the way.
Here in England, all non essential shops are re-opening soon and outdoor dining – so it will make it that bit easier and hopefully avoid another spike in cases – lets remain focussed & optimistic
Breathe in that fresh air, notice all that beauty that surrounds you and go with each day as it comes. This is new to you and I, but we’re riding this storm together, learning and growing each day and have been for over a year now. Days filled with hope are here, now a vaccine is well and truly rolling out.
Sitting in the garden with a hot cuppa, a stroll in the park while the sun is shining and watching your family playing together: the simple little precious mindful moments that make a challenging time seem so much brighter. Focussing on whatever those ‘special’ things are, that make all the difference in ‘your’ life.
Be kind to yourself and be gentle to yourself. There is so much love and hope surrounding you during a time, when some days it really does feel like that light is harder to grasp. Some days are challenging, and thats ok. Focus on what gives ‘you’ joy.
I wrote this reflective poem, just after a mindful walk. Being present, focussing on nature and the beauty that surrounds you, while appreciating the small but important things; makes such a difference!
Lost in the Moment of Life and its Art
A Flock of wild birds they fly in chilled air I walk, embracing the earths open heart. A seagull it sweeps, alone with no care lost in the moment of life and its art. The ring of church bells, white tracks, a blue sky, children, they giggle dog walkers pass by. Bare trees that stand tall with nests where birds grew, leaves lying crumpled and soggy from dew. Clear beads as they rest on blades of green grass, autumn alive, soft clouds as they pass. A squirrel, It dances, I watch, he’s aware, Its bushy long tail, he captures my stare. This vision absorbed, the rush is no more, nature alive unlocking my core. Connections so strong I open my heart, lost in the moment of life and its art
