General News
4 October, 2024
Finding peace in nature: the importance of rest amid a busy school life
A Mum's World: relaxing in nature is crucial for good wellbeing.
Back to the busy bluster of school this week after the break, during which the blossoms on my fruit trees bloomed and were blown to bits by the wind!
Thankfully, I took the time to sit and watch the flowers dancing in the air this year.
There was sunshine too, but just no rain.
My two weeks of school holidays felt like a month.
I had time to catch-up on all my jobs in the garden and all the paperwork on my desk, so finally one day, I just sat down in the garden with a cup of coffee to watch the magenta blossom on the crab apple tree flutter in the breeze.
It was lush, so perfectly designed, dark pink and absolutely gorgeous.
The plum, pear and cherry trees all donned crisp white blossom, which was lovely too, but the magenta had me captivated.
I made sure to mow the lawn around it and weed underneath, so it was sitting pretty in the front yard with it's border of red bricks in the ground.
I was surprised how much I needed that quiet time of quality rest in nature in the presence of God.
As a wellbeing worker, I am constantly reminding others that sleep, nutrition, exercise and important connections are paramount, but it's so easy to let a couple of these vital steps slip a little without noticing.
During winter I didn't exercise enough and definitely didn't stop to smell the roses or see the splendour around me.
Life is full, but we need to make sure it's full of the right things.
Our culture is one of distraction and way too many thought bubbles.
With the clocks being turned back and longer days unfolding, I am aiming to avoid another blowout in term four by staying aware.
I'm determined to walk outside more and watch nature more - starting with the bees - and breathing in the beauty, then puffing until I'm pooped.
Our senior students at school will need to take a leaf out of my book too, as investing in their downtime will feed into their flourishing and prevent them from fading too soon.
Too much pressure will see them tattered and torn in the tumult, so let's help each other thrive.