2019-11-01 In The Moment

114 CalmMoment.com

A

few years ago, I was a bit down. It was

vacation time and the sun was shining, but

there were a number of unpleasant things

going on in my life and I was angry with someone.

In that condition, I was ruminating in a lavish

Spanish garden full of flowers, although I didn’t

really see them. They were just there.

Then my eyes locked on a wilted bloom. When

I looked a little longer, I saw more wilted flowers.

And I also saw buds that could burst any moment,

and a flower that had already become some kind

of black fruit, carrying the seeds for the future

generation of that plant. Without thinking much

about it, I picked a few flowers and arranged them

in the right order on the floor, from bud to fruit.

This whole procedure had made me so happy,

so light and cheerful, that I had already forgotten

how bleak I had felt when I started it.

“If we want to stay sane in this world,

we’ve got to return to nature”

For wellness writer and author Jocelyn de Kwant, her relationship

with the natural world is the key to her wellbeing

That day in the Spanish garden I realised that

I missed nature deeply. I had been such a nature

lover as a child, going on early morning excursions

to hear birds singing and spending many hours

identifying butterflies and plants. What had

happened? Like most of us, I joined the fast city life.

I had forgotten the feeling nature gave me.

After experiencing a burnout 1 5 years ago, I have

dedicated my work as a journalist to writing about

things that make us feel better. I’ve tried everything

and spoken to many experts in the field. And all of

that was beneficial. However, discovering the recent

research about the positive impact of nature – and

there is a lot – it feels as if I’ve found the holy grail

of wellbeing.

That day in the Spanish garden was the start of

a new journey. I can honestly say it has changed

my life for the better.

LIFE LESSONS

Jocelyn de Kwant is a journalist and editor specialising in mindfulness and simple living.

Her latest book, Nature Tonic: A Year in My Mindful Life (Leaping Hare Press, £12.99),

is a workbook designed to help us all appreciate the power of being in nature.

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