Nature + Us
September 9, 2025
🌿Hello, Friend,
Nature is a wonderful partner in enhancing our health and well-being.
Simple activities—walking, exercising outside, or sharing a meal with friends—help lower stress and blood pressure, reset the nervous system, and create a calmer inner world. Even quiet moments of connection with nature bring lasting benefits:
Gardening or digging in the soil
Listening to birdsong
Feeling a cool breeze on your skin
Smelling flowers
Breathing in fresh air
Each of these simple experiences acts like medicine for both body and soul — a quiet kind of love ❤️
When we feel alone or isolated, time in nature reminds us we are connected—to the earth, to each other, and to something greater than ourselves. Nature invites us into the present moment, softening worry and distraction, and guiding us back to what is here and now.
I’m grateful that, on difficult days, I can simply sit on my porch, breathe deeply, and let nature work its quiet magic. My stress melts away. A smile forms. I’m reminded that I’m not alone, and that beauty is always near if I pause long enough to notice it.
🌳 Mindful Walking
One of my favorite teachers, the late Thich Nhat Hanh, taught mindful walking as a way to connect deeply with both body and Earth. He once wrote:
“The mind can go in a thousand different directions,
but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace.
With each step, a gentle wind blows.
With each step, a flower blooms.”
Inspired by his teaching, I sometimes repeat to myself on my mindful strolls:
“As I walk, I kiss the Earth with my feet, leaving love and kindness as I go.”
With each step, I imagine leaving behind a kiss of love and kindness—for the earth and for others walking the same path, both literally and figuratively.
🪴 Even Indoors, Nature Heals
The wonderful part is that we don’t always have to be outdoors to receive the benefits of nature. You can bring it inside:
Open a window to let in fresh air
Notice trees or flowers from your window
Hang pictures of your favorite nature scenes
Bring natural colors into your home or workspace
Listen to recordings of birdsong or other nature sounds
Even these simple acts reduce stress, improve sleep, restore energy, and help us recover from the demands of daily life.
☀️ Strong Heart & Nature
Inside the Strong Heart Community, many of our guided practices, sound journeys, and conversations are inspired by nature. I often share posts with calming photos and gentle reflections—simple invitations to pause, release stress, and return to calm.
Members bring their own photos and thoughtful insights as well, so it becomes a shared path of support. Together, we’re building a foundation of stillness and ease, grounded in the rhythms of nature.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to explore this subscription-based space where you can reconnect with your energy, ease, and health.
https://www.strongheartcommunity.com
🎁 A Gift for You
As a gift of calm, Sharon West (who composes music specially for our community) and I created an immersive meditation inspired by the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing. Walk In The Park is a guided visualization and sensory awareness experience with music and nature sounds.
I hope this practice brings you a moment of peace and a reminder of the beauty that’s always around you.
With warmth,
Pam
Your Architect of Calm
P.S. Share a gift of calm today—forward this email to someone who might enjoy a quiet moment. 🌿