Trying new things

It’s a new year. I am not one to make New Years resolutions but I do like to try new things. In fact that was one motivation for setting up this blog. Trying something new can break the monotony of routine, stimulate creativity, or get me looking at things from a new perspective. Sometimes simply cooking a new dish or listening to new music can reinvigorate me.

One of the new things I am so glad I tried in 2021 was forest bathing. Distinct from walking or hiking in nature, forest bathing encourages you to slow down, even sit down, and connect with the forest (see Forest bathing invitations for information on the guided session I took). These days it’s nice to have an easy outdoor activity that can give me a mental health boost. I find myself heading to my local woodland regularly to recharge.

I find a spot to sit, close my eyes, listen, and take some deep breaths.  When I open my eyes, there’s usually a forest feature that draws me in: new growth pushing through the underbrush, a tiny branch clinging to a tree, a shapely tree trunk.

During my latest foray in the forest I had to laugh at the feature before my eyes. The forest has a sense of humour.

In front of me was a tree trunk, about 10 feet tall, with two stubby branches forming a V. It looked like a huge slingshot. The perfect vessel to rid myself of the negative thoughts swirling unchecked in my head.

I packed my anxiety and frustration into a compact snowball, wound up that slingshot, nice and tight with all my might, and flung that volatile matter far away.

Be gone with you!

Most of the time my “sit spots” in the forest do not involve heavy machinery and rage. They are generally peaceful. Soothing.

Take my final day in Alájar. I hiked up to the rocky outcrop La Peña and its landmark whitewashed belfry which you can see from the village below. The view was spectacular, as was the walk down the other side of the mountain. The path meandered through a lush pine forest. The carpet of pine needles thick as shag carpet. 

The forest was tranquil. Inviting me to take a seat. I sat on a rock between two chestnut trees – one with a few leafy branches, the other old and grey – and closed my eyes and breathed in the tangy forest air. I was in Spain but the language of the forest is universal.

The location was unique but forest bathing locally brings the same benefits. You can do it anywhere.

Forest bathing has me looking at the forest from a new perspective. I’ll be carrying forward these lessons into another year…and looking out for new things to try in 2022.

Wishing you all a new year filled with health, happiness and opportunities to try new things.