Every Day is a Fresh Opportunity to Explore our Surroundings
In my last post, I mentioned the importance of beholding the beauty of nature and letting our thoughts wander. Even if it’s only for twenty minutes, or a half-hour, going outside can make a big difference in our lives and how we feel about ourselves throughout the day.
I learned this lesson early on. My grandpa religiously took his walk at dawn before heading to work. He spent a glorious hour by himself, or occasionally with a neighbor, strolling down tree-lined sidewalks, listening to birds chirping overhead, catching rays of golden sun leaking through date trees. This daily practice kept him healthy and alert throughout his life. He passed away at 92—peacefully—during one of his early-morning constitutionals.
My grandpa was a happy man; he was strong in his faith, and he knew how to spot the good things in life. I try to be more like him every day. Luckily, working for myself has its advantages. I sneak out of my office before or after lunch to explore my surroundings. Like they did for my grandpa, these brief escapades into nature nourish me. They help me feel blessed and alive.
Dipping my toes in the grass, sniffing a sweet rose, or caressing a leaf as I wander gives sense to my world—a world that is rapidly changing, where so many things are happening across the globe that make no sense at all. This practice helps keep me sane during these chaotic times.
This nurturing practice invites me to take precious time out of my day to listen to the stirrings that come from within. It also allows me to perceive blessed words and feelings conveyed by the Divine, the Creator, Mother Nature, God—or however you prefer to name the Beloved, the Holy, or the Greater Source of Wisdom.
On my daily walks, with my senses open and alert, I observe wild cats, timid dogs, the harsh sun beating down on buckwheat fields. I inspect ponds filled with lily pads, and carp swimming underneath. I listen to the wind whistling through tree branches.
At last, inspired by the sentient life and beauty around me—thrilled to have aroused curiosity from within, and from the Divine—I return to my desk and write about what touched me the most. Every day is a fresh opportunity to peek, poke and feel.
Dropping into sacred moments of silence, with few distractions, nourishes the spaciousness that we feel around us, and within. It allows us to dip into our intuitive senses and create more balance between our work activities and our personal lives. Not surprisingly, this intentional process of listening—and being fully present—brings us a sense of purpose. It nourishes our soul.
When I create greater balance between my work and personal life I feel on top of the world. When I make an effort to bring creativity into my workday, even for 30 minutes (drawing while listening to a podcast, for example, or taking photos at sunset), I feel inspired, motivated, and blessed. A more regulated nervous system boosts my outlook on life. I also feel this way when meditating, chanting, praying, or practicing sports: biking, walking, swimming, dancing, practicing yoga, and qi gong.
In addition to being an interfaith spiritual director, I am a member of the Climate Coaching Alliance, and I have recently become a certified burnout coach. I look forward to doing more outdoor sessions with spiritual directees: individually and in small groups. There’s even a way to have these sessions online, in nature, via Zoom or over the phone. I want to help spiritual seekers around the world grow, and heal, by practicing being present in nature, and appreciating its many gifts.
What about you? What helps bring you balance in your life (spiritually, or otherwise)?
Feel free to send me your experiences and thoughts through my website contact form. And if you would like to learn more about spiritual direction with me, please let me know.
Also, if you’d like to awaken your creative flow through intuitive expression, consider joining my next Mindfulness-Based Creative Writing Workshop: Prompt Your Passion. Participants in this 2-hour online workshop will be inspired by a series of in-class prompts using poetry and pictures. The aim is to boost creativity and deepen each participant’s intuitive expression and flow in writing through contemplative practices.
We will meet via Zoom on Friday, December 11, 2026, from 10:00-noon (PT) / 1:00-3:00pm (EDT) / 19:00-21:00pm (CET). Register soon as space is limited: