The View From the Verandah #8: Centering Yourself in Nature after the Silly Season
![DQmSWyeHxihvWUY9k54wEkxviFaQsNazx71ECWno5jDrc2M.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmXASCpWjgF7iK4BfcadZnquTT26PzZBEnWC1V9o5mFts1/DQmSWyeHxihvWUY9k54wEkxviFaQsNazx71ECWno5jDrc2M.jpg)
Hello Lovely Steemians,
It's such a beautiful morning in my part of the world. The birds are calling to each other, the cicadas are providing a deafening soundtrack fit to outdo the front row of preteen groupies at a One Direction concert . According to a professor at Sydney University they have risen from the ground in plague proportions this year- that is the cicadas , not the preteen groupies...although...
![cicadas.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmTSCowQa26DekQALeVeSazgAE36wE1k6BMAX6SwE2TtzJ/cicadas.jpg)
Source
So here's today's "View"
![view from the verandah.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSyy8wTtdGKEjUmCJ4JcnZxL6CwbcaKPoZECewxBuZ6Am/view%20from%20the%20verandah.png)
Christmas is over and in a few days - after New Years Eve - the silly season can be put to rest for another year.
So it's almost time to start thinking about our goals, aspirations and priorities for 2018.
But before that - maybe it's time to take some time. Just to chill, be in the moment, commune with nature - okay my inner hippy is coming out now but I promise I won't start singing Kumbayah.
We aren't really church going people, but we certainly do have an interest in spirituality and I'd like to think we do our best to live by spiritual principles. We would rather connect with God, spirit, universal energy - whatever you want to call it - when we are in the outdoors, whether it be out bush-walking in a national park or going for a swim or a surf down at the beach.
![25488421_10156095123852249_8354821870599113166_o.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmYPHfeBwfs3vj23bEqBdskyr9ZpMTcm6KmgjnpreB463R/25488421_10156095123852249_8354821870599113166_o.jpg)
Long Jetty Board Walk
Living on our little piece of paradise with plenty of land, trees and wildlife surrounding us also gives us an opportunity to connect on a daily basis. Being in balance with our spirit seems to attract balance to everything else, meaning we feel better, work better, love better.
![18342620_10155413098687249_4125199395703768872_n.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdLsSrJpsb4qh5wW4Gw62PUQUUF3r8PVc2bqB9TFaAdU7/18342620_10155413098687249_4125199395703768872_n.jpg)
Our resident Tawny Frog Mouth couple
Zoe Myers, an urban designer from the University of Western Australia, says that that city dwellers have a 20 per cent higher chance of suffering anxiety and an almost 40 per cent greater likelihood of developing depression. Her research also shows that people in urban areas who live close to areas of green space are less likely to suffer from poor mental health.
![11880340_10153633943327249_1350112982658342695_n.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmPJdae8p318yPNLYdGJamMQteLxDuVQMja1NSTw7LVGLQ/11880340_10153633943327249_1350112982658342695_n.jpg)
Sydney's Botanic Gardens, close to offices and apartments
I know from myself that exposure to nature can increase my own mental calmness, decrease any agitation that I might be feeling and improve the creative thought process.
Nature helps my creative process. Love working outside
As our cities expand, we often lose our green-spaces, as they make way for housing, roads and infrastructure. In planning for new urban developments, planting trees in parks, gardens or streets has many benefits. Trees bring shade and cool down temperature extremes.
In Sydney we are lucky enough to retain large strips of nature so close to the CBD...for the time being anyway...
They also reduce air pollution and provide habitat for animals (e.g birds and animals) which can bring the sounds of nature back to the suburbs. I think seeing nature and hearing the sounds of nature make many people feel happy. (I'm just about over the cacophony of cicadas though i have to admit!)
![459473_10150787287303115_1619226777_o.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPiBhWzGRrTh9wdewGsDMARt7h9fn3hibbQtD3c3D2XgU/459473_10150787287303115_1619226777_o.jpg)
Get out and have some fun in nature
So before you settle down to work out your 2018 plans take some time out to get in tune in nature, center yourself, be in the present moment and at peace. Think about bringing nature back into your living space, whether it's pot plants on a balcony, or planting a tree in the garden
Thanks again for letting me ramble,
Til next time Steem on with Love and Light
If you enjoyed this post don't forget to UPVOTE and Hit that FOLLOW Button!
Let's All Share the Steemit Love!
![DQmbD9Et8EtYXcMBhuxJQM1fZe4UmEHShUVCWXkLZtVF6Zi_1680x8400.png](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmbD9Et8EtYXcMBhuxJQM1fZe4UmEHShUVCWXkLZtVF6Zi/DQmbD9Et8EtYXcMBhuxJQM1fZe4UmEHShUVCWXkLZtVF6Zi_1680x8400.png)
Don't forget to come check out the teamaustralia tag and see what exciting things we are all up to in the land of Oz! It's full of Aussies and Aussie-lovers with great stories from when we are at home or loose in the world!
Thanks to @bearone for creating my beautiful teamaustralia banner which I love sooooo much! Don't forget to check out her posts and show her some love as well.
If you are a newbie and looking for help - or you just want to help support the minnows and grow this wonderful platform of ours - please consider checking out minnowsupportproject. This is a fantastic initiative to help everyone grow together and is full of fantastic advice for anyone starting out. You can find out more about it here.
![DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi.gif](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi/DQmRSmRyg4MdRdiKsWTMbfyiAG673K1yP65MoUTbCXGp9Xi.gif)
(Logo and Banner Created By @justcallmemyth - another great Steemian you should check out and support)
Love your writing Shelly and the pictures always paint the picture.
My wife was saying to me just yesterday that she doesn't care what we do for New Years as long as we get back to nature a bit. Getting some proper camp gear has been bumped up the wish list for 2018 ;)
I actually don't mind the cicadas. It's kind of white noise and while it's loud it can be hypnotic at times. It also reminds me of my childhood. We haven't had a lot of them around the last few years but I remember growing up and being unable to hold a conversation in the street they were so loud.
These pictures are mesmerizing, I am following each places on the wings of imagination, I love nature, birds and animals. Just shared few pix of some cute animals … I assume you are going to like them.
Click and see…. Vote if you like them
https://steemit.com/beautiful/@zahidalifaqir/animals-photography
Thank you im glad you liked them
your first image could be a book cover!
congrats,
esa
Thanks.. its amazing how good the cameras are on phones these days!
Hehe, give me one and it's as much of use as taking a picture with a potatoe.. Then again, maybe I should update to a better phone(camera)