Life in the 21st century is in a hurry. People often have deadlines to meet, schedules to keep, and not enough time to fit everything in. But intentionally slowing down can help us to pause, rediscover our connection with nature, and realign with its soothing rhythms.
A Rich History
In the beginning, it was natural cycles that governed people’s routines. Dawn and dusk, hot and cold, wet and dry. Cultures across the world often observed these changes so closely that broad categories such as ‘seasons’ made little sense. Instead it was daily shifts, as small as those of the rising and setting sun, which garnered attention.
For example, in the UK, the neolithic monument at Stonehenge, built around 5,000 years ago, was aligned with sunrise on the summer solstice, and sunset on the winter solstice. Throughout human history, recognising and revering these annual events has helped to bring communities together, and bind people to the landscapes they inhabit.
Moments Not Minutes
The natural world is a place of constant change, from day to night, winter to spring, and even from one minute to the next. Noticing these changes can dramatically change the way we experience our local environments, especially in towns and cities.
Recent research has suggested that spending meaningful time in nature might be more important than just clocking up minutes outside. Tuning into the natural world and taking a moment to notice elements such as birdsong and flowers can help to build a close relationship with nature that reinforces happiness and meaning.
Moments such as sunrise and sunset, a sudden storm, an unexpected rainbow, or a rising moon, can make a landscape more beautiful and awe inspiring. These events take place in the vast canvas of the sky above – wherever we are – and can connect us with global rhythms that transcend human influence.
The Power of Change
Natural processes can also symbolise shifts in our own lives. The German philosopher Georg Hegel suggested the changing moods of nature could help us find both hope and solace.
We might view sunrise as promising, clear skies as a new start, and winter snows as a signal for rest. Embracing metaphors like this can help us navigate life as we undergo continual periods of change: the storm always breaks, the tide always turns, the sun always rises again.
Building relationships with the natural world can lead to an exciting array of benefits. People who are more connected to nature report greater happiness, enhanced satisfaction with life, improved psychological resilience, and reduced anxiety.
Perhaps more importantly still, people who are more connected to nature are more likely to spend time in it. Yet modern urban environments – alongside strictly managed routines – can insulate us from these connections, cycles, and meaningful moments.
To help you slow down and go with nature’s flow, we have assembled a selection of portals that embrace the idea of change. In turn, they might just boost your connection with the ever evolving world we call home, and stimulate a curiosity to step outside whenever you can.
