The Healing Power of Nature

August 19th — In the morning dew, I found space for softer thoughts. Nature never demands, it only reminds me to notice. 

The truth is, nature has always been my quiet healer. The sea, with its endless horizon and restless rhythm, makes me feel both small and infinite at once. The forest, with the scent of pine needles and the sound of silence, has become my sanctuary. And the sky — the clouds, the stars, the moon — they remind me that there is always something bigger holding me, no matter how heavy the day feels.

When I was younger, I thought mindfulness meant sitting still on a cushion, eyes closed, waiting for peace to arrive. But here's my confession: I never quite managed it. Not like that. And believe me, I've tried — I've wanted to be that meditating person, radiating in a higher frequency. But for me, it has always felt forced, almost like I was trying to squeeze myself into someone else's mold. 

But when I walk with my dog into the woods, when I stand barefoot on the shore, when I simply tilt my head back to watch the night sky — I realize that this is my meditation. This is where I remember to breathe deeper, where my shoulders soften, where I feel safe enough to just be.

I've learned that it's not just a feeling. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can lower stress hormones, reduce anxiety, and even improve our sleep. Just 20 minutes outside can calm the nervous system and bring a measurable sense of relief. No wonder a walk in the woods or the sound of waves can feel like medicine, nature is literally rewiring my body into a softer state.

Nature teaches us presence without demanding effort. It doesn't ask us to be perfect. It only asks us to notice.

Now that I live surrounded by forest, I feel the difference every single day. I notice how much calmer I am here. I notice how much stress I carried when I lived in the city — the constant hum of traffic, the endless rush, the subtle pressure to move faster and do more. I didn't even realize how tense it made me until I stepped away from it.

This is where slow living begins for me. Not in forcing slowness, but in letting myself sink into the natural rhythm that has always been here. A rhythm where mornings don't need to be rushed, where evenings can stretch into soft silence, where simply sitting by the window and watching the sky change feels like enough.

Maybe slow living is not about creating a new lifestyle at all. Maybe it's about remembering the one nature has been teaching us all along.

What about you — where do you find your quiet presence? Is it in the forest, by the water, under the stars… or somewhere else entirely?

If these reflections spoke to you, I'd love to share more soft moments together. You can find me on Instagram @selflavie. 🌿

Soft hugs,
Selflavie