I went to our wildlife preserve island today, with the dogs. The island spreads out over 1,200 acres with beautiful open and wooded areas. The park is not only the biggest park in Salem, Oregon, but it is also larger than Central Park in New York City. It's gorgeous.🍂And only a 7 minute drive from my home.
🐕There is a 30-acre, designated off-leash dog area and this is where I walk the trails with my grand-dogs ♡. 🐾
🐦What I also love is that this island also serves as a waterfowl and 🐸wildlife sanctuary. ♡
Blue herons, ospreys, 🦅hawks, eagles, 🐿squirrels, and 🐇 rabbits are among the many different 🐦⬛wetland creatures 🦫that call this park their home.
I haven't been able to find my Nikes👟lately, for walking the trails, as i have them packed away somewhere. So, my son, Cole let me wear his.
They fit just about right with my extra thick, pink, fuzzy warm socks. (Smile)
Today, I mindfully felt the earth beneath me as I walked slowly and intentionally, watching the dogs, Atticus and Soren, run, play fetch and socialize with the other dogs.
🐕🦺Atticus is a "herding dog" and sometimes tries to herd all of the other dogs like he is herding cattle. Haha Not all dogs appreciate this, but he easily is re-directed and stops when needed. Atticus is very friendly and social.
🐕Soren is the big sister who gets protective of Atticus (and Cole and I) and will do a friendly, yet stern bark, once in a while at other dogs, to make them keep their distance.
Soren is getting much better at her social skills, though. She will lick your entire face to let you know you are approved by her. :)
🍂Being in nature is such a spiritual experience for me...it is healing as it helps me connect to my body, again. ♡
🧠It's easy to disconnect from our bodies and get stuck in patterns of dissociation when stress or anxiety or PTSD get activated and flood our nervous system.
⏳️So, every 10 minutes I check in with myself.
📷I love to stop and take photos of leaves and moss and trees and apples, as this movement meditative action keeps me present and in the moment.
My senses take in everything and I feel my body relax.
🚶♀️I will do a body scan as I walk, to see if I am shallow breathing or holding my breath.
I also drop my shoulders, relax my jaw, take in deep breaths and exhale slowly, I straighten my posture and take mindful steps.
My body responds gently.
I am still working on getting my strength💪and energy back and each day is a little better.
However, as you know, healing is never linear and so I respect that process and accept it.🤲 (More on some days than on other days. Today I accept it.).
🌳As I gaze at the trees today on my walk, I see that most trees have now lost most all of their leaves - as leaves lay scattered all around the ground in abundance.🍁
I felt this visual presentation in my bones.🩷
i am reminded that the next season will soon be upon us.
My soul anxiously awaits a new season for my spirit, as well, alongside nature. 🙏
🍂I feel God's Spirit everywhere here and I am grateful.❤️
I hope that wherever you are at in the world, 🌏that you too can find sacred, holy moments in your ordinary tasks today...moments to breathe in deep and know that everything is going to be okay. ♡
🌿Nature is not the only place where we can heal if you are unable to be in it.
💕Mindfulness, our spiritual walk, healing and peace...they can be found anywhere when we slow down enough to feel them and intentionally let them in to fill our spirit up, through small, sacred and holy moments within our days.
May you find peace, laughter and love throughout your day and this upcoming week.
🤲You are worthy and you deserve all these beautiful gifts.
❤️"But ask the animals — they will teach you —
and the birds in the air — they will tell you;
or speak to the earth — it will teach you —
and the fish in the sea will inform you:
Every one of them knows
that the hand of Adonai has done this!
In Spirit's hand is the life of every living thing
and the spirit of every human being."
Job 12: 7-10❤️
Much Love,
Linnea