Gratitude For Mother Nature

​We have been having some pretty wild rain here in Melbourne recently, and there has been lots of hype around possible floods. While I have been tempted to be fearful and negative around the rain, I decided to overcome my negative bias and enjoy the wonderful rain and its cleansing, fun, replenishing elements. On Sunday I walked the Carmen's fun run with my friends Kelly Kacey and Fiona and lots of other amazing women. I was so happy they did not cancel the event because of the weather! Despite being heard to say 'I hoped they did'! Seeing the bay a swell with waves, getting wet and blown around was quite exhilarating and refreshing. So rather than reject and be unappreciative of Mother Nature and the weather elements, I decided to embrace them and give thanks.   

As I said last week I often forget how amazing my life is and all those people and  other factors involved in sustaining it, and making it so amazing!  This week, with all our rain, I have been contemplating the wonder of Mother Nature and how she sustains, supports and lovingly takes care of us all, so perfectly. Such unearned grace we can be truly grateful for!!

So as I sit to write this blog and look out to our backyard I can see the rain falling, the veggies almost visibly growing, the beautiful tree gently moving with the wind, and the pink flamingo (plastic - though quite like the real thing) floating happily in the pool. I can hear the light fall of the rain, the birds chirping away and the stillness in between. 

So this week and beyond I am going to make a special effort to be mindful of gratitude for Mother Nature.

• The fresh air I breathe 
• The clean water I drink 
• The trees and plants that provide oxygen, food and beauty 
• The sky and its beauty and rain clouds 
• The warmth of sun that sustains life
• The animals that bring joy, companionship and food
• The sounds of the birds, wind and ocean  

I am going to be mindful to remember to be grateful to Mother Nature as I

• Walk around 
•  Look out the window 
• Take time out in nature to sit quietly in the park 
• Breathe 
• Feel the breeze and warmth of the sun
• Look up at the sky in the day time and wonder at the clouds and beauty
• Look up at the sky at night and wonder at the stars and beyond 

So no matter where you are, especially at this potentially busy time of year, try to remember to take some time out to let Mother Nature replenish you by being thankful.

• Give appreciation and thanks for your breath, the sky, the ocean, plants and trees, animals, insects whatever it is. And wherever it is. It may be the sight of Mother Nature, outside your office window, on your walk to work, sitting on a tram, or walking in nature.  
• Take a five minute shavasana or rest. As I have shared before, my yoga teacher Andrew recommends to take 5 minutes to lie down and rest each and every day. You can choose to focus on your breath or a practice I like to do is to lie down and breathe in gratitude and love, and breathe out fear. It is such a restorative, energising practice. You may want to gift yourself or someone you know a POM eye pillow for this practice.   
• Take a walk in nature and be aware of and thankful for the beauty, sustenance and abundance Mother Nature provides, free of charge.
• Lie down in the park or on the grass or beach and watch the sky float by
• Star gaze at night. Again, you may like to lie down and simply wonder at the night sky, its stars, galaxies and beyond

It is such fun to practice gratitude and to have this spring to mind rather than negativity and discontent. And don't forget to be grateful for yourselves too!! All those ways you are showing kindness and being a positive force in the world no matter how small. And to remember to give yourself a break to restore and replenish. I will be enjoying my break in Foster and my daily 5 minute rest and feel so grateful for the opportunity to restore and replenish with and in Mother Nature. 


Have a great week. Thank you all. 
Kind Regards and Best Wishes, 
Maree xx ​