Extraordinary Women Blog #7 – Nature… & Your Well Being
I recently had a fascinating conversation with Antonia Mason from the wonderful bookstore Books on the Hill in St. Alban’s England, for an upcoming podcast.
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One of Antonia’s recommended books is
12 Birds to Save Your Life, Nature’s Lessons in Happiness by Charlie Corbett.
I’ve just started the book, but I’m already engaged. He had me at the introduction, when he explained why so many of us are wanting to surround ourselves with nature, whether inside or outside our homes.
“This book is about coping with being human…. We have become dislocated from our natural environment. And it is this dislocation, I believe, that is a major reason why so many of us now find it hard to cope with what the modern world throws at us. We’ve lost the perspective that nature provides….”
Maybe this explains my new fascination with trees (and birds). It might be my desire to understand the ebbs and flows of life, the frailties of the human ego, and the realization that although my life feels like the center of the universe while I am alive, my lifetime is much like a bump or knot in the lifetime of a tree.
Trees are as unique as we humans are, and like a tree, we all need to learn to stand tall and proud and be our real and true selves regardless of our baggage (or imperfections). I’m reminded of that when I look at my face in the mirror and see all the lines, the little scars, the sun spots, and more. My skin could be viewed as the bark of my body, and there to display the whole of my life not just the smooth bits.
I think of that now when I closely observe a tree. I try to imagine what created the uniqueness of the tree, what conflicts it has dealt with, how long it has stood tall in that one spot. Who has stood under it for shelter, protection, or comfort?
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This tree on the property of Edith Wharton’s home in the Berkshires called The Mount.
Is it twin trees is or one that split and survived?
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Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is always special. The leafy canopy makes you want to sit on a bench and plan out your book, surely the next great novel.
In our most recent issue of Extraordinary Women Magazine, I interview the garden guide Amy Kupec Larue, who has an amazing story by the way. She shares how she heard about the map of the Great Trees of London and thought, why don’t I create one for Paris?
Sure enough, she was hired. Out of Amy’s love of gardens and trees, came yet another creative business idea. Here’s more info from Blue Crow Publishing.
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This is a tree at the Wheatleigh Hotel in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, a former Gilded Age mansion that is now a lovely hotel once owned by Malcom Forbes. He’d stay at Wheatleigh on his long motorcycle trips in the area. Forget the motorcycle, I just want to sit in this tree like the child I once was and imagine all my big dreams coming true.
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As Charlie Corbett said, “In this journey of rediscovery I came to realize that if you take note of the nature around you, try to understand it, watch it, and grow to love it, then not only will this make you a happier, more content human being, but it will help nature too.”
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England has the most fabulous trees…these two are in Kensington Garden.
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And these little gems are the flowers of the chestnut trees all over Paris. Springtime in Paris when these trees bloom, includes major allergic reactions for almost everyone. These gorgeous flowers create quite the pollen punch!
The Jardin du Tuileries is just a few blocks from my apartment, so I often find myself walking through it. The flowers remind me Dior’s love of flowers…. each petal of the Chestnut tree bloom could be an embroidery on a Dior dress.
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Out of the flowers comes the chestnuts or marrons that are part of the yummy autumn cuisine in France. Here is a post by David Lebovitz on Crème de Marrons
The tarts are my absolute favorite.
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Commonwealth Avenue in Boston is always special. The leafy canopy makes you want to sit on a bench and plan out your book, surely the next great novel.
In our most recent issue of Extraordinary Women Magazine, I interview the garden guide Amy Kupec Larue, who has an amazing story by the way. She shares how she heard about the map of the Great Trees of London and thought, why don’t I create one for Paris?
Sure enough, she was hired. Out of Amy’s love of gardens and trees, came yet another creative business idea. Here’s more info from Blue Crow Publishing.
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From Charlie Corbett, “I’ve learned that it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of living a one- or two-dimensional life. We look but we don’t see. We hear but we don’t listen. Nature is the third dimension we too readily take for granted, too readily ignore. I feel so lucky today that I took the time to reconnect with it. Every day, every month, every season, nature has a story to tell me. I tuned in to that story and I’ve never looked back. “
Now, whenever I’m feeling down, depressed with the state of the world, or disappointed by people, I put myself in nature. Looking at trees and beautiful blooms that turn into fruit or nuts whether we pay attention to them or not, reminds me of the strength and tenacity of people and nature. No matter what has happened in our lives, we strive to re-invent so we can continue to grow.
Sitting under the trees.
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