Subtle Lessons From the Great Outdoors

week16

Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars… and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful. Everything is simply happy. Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance. Look at the flowers – for no reason. It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are.
— Osho

Action Item:
Take the time to be more aware and drink in your surroundings. Slow down, breathe with nature, and start to see yourself as a part of the greater whole. Learn from the trees, and move forward with a sense of peace, serenity, and simple contentment.

By April Black

We can learn a lot from Mother Nature, if we open ourselves up to the opportunity. Too often we go through our days, focused on getting from point A to point B and how much we can accomplish in a particular period of time. I know I have done this more than I’d like to admit, even passing by something multiple times without noticing it was ever there. Our surroundings become a blur, an insignificant backdrop to what we are convinced is “really” important. We are hamsters on a wheel, chasing some unattainable endpoint and missing out on all of the lush and natural beauty around us in the process.

Lately I have made a conscious effort to be more aware of nature, and take the time to really notice the environment around me. I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen so many trees in my life! Who knew there were so many different kinds, shapes, and sizes? I certainly was not previously this present to the trees. Yes, I’ve always loved nice weather, appreciated pretty flowers, and gazed at a lovely sunset, but have been cheating myself out of this amazing opportunity to deeply connect and admire the natural beauty built into every single day. If you could use some ideas and inspiration in this area of your life, glance at our short and sweet Weekly Intention Guide designed to do so.

We are incredibly blessed to live here in Austin because there is so much to appreciate about the outdoors. Yes, we iGnite

We are “incredibly blessed to live here in Austin because there is so much to appreciate about the outdoors.” -April Black, ignite leader

outdoors, but are you really paying attention to the beauty around you? Look up at the sky as you’re stretching at the end of class. Watch the trees sway as you find your balance in yoga. Smile at the happy squirrel that prances by at Pease Park, and at the crazy dog that runs halfway up the tree to try and catch him. Take a deep breath with the breeze. Slow down and actually notice your surroundings. Drink them in. Let them fuel you. If you plow through your days with blinders on, you are missing out on the beauty of the journey along the way.

On Wednesday, I taught Amy Younkman’s yoga class at Rollingwood. If you’d like to try one, here is our updated weekly schedule where you can participate in a free week trial. While I waited for everyone to arrive, I sat down in the grass, in the sunlight, and watched the trees for a few minutes. Solid and strong, each tree stood perfectly content with itself. Every tree was different, yet it was not comparing itself to the other trees or thinking it needed to shrink down, get greener leaves, grow taller, or look a certain way. No tree was “better” than another, and each one was completely comfortable with its “imperfections” – perhaps dried brown leaves, spots, or broken branches – knowing that these didn’t make them any less of a tree. As the wind blew, the trees adapted – each moving as one unit, swaying in the breeze fluidly, seamlessly, and gracefully. The trees can’t control the wind, but they know how to remain flexible and adaptable to the other parts of nature out of their control.

We can learn a lot from the trees, and try to adopt this sense of calm, peace, and contentment they unassumingly possess. Beyond trees, there are birds, flowers, clouds, sunlight, sunrises, sunsets, stars, the moon, grass, wildlife, water, and infinite other natural wonders out there. All you have to do is just open your eyes. Take the lessons readily available from Mother Nature and let your surroundings become an integral part of your days. And next time you see geese flying overhead, consider the tremendous life lesson shown in this weeks video, which I know you will enjoy.