This past weekend, I was thankful to be able to take part in a mindfulness walk at Belknap Woods as part of an adventure ecology program. Our afternoon was spent hiking the Beaver Loop Pond trail where our small group took in the beauty of nature by practicing meditation and stress relieving techniques. Our group passed a small stream flowing from the recent snow melt where we stopped to sit for a while. Having sat down, I recall closing my eyes and taking in the senses of the surrounding nature. Far off, I could hear chattering of nuthatches in the trees and the nostalgic sound of spring peepers even further away. I could smell the sweet but woody scent of pine sap and the earthy scent of petrichor, or the smell of oncoming rain. I could feel the rough texture of the bed of oak leaves, pine needles, and hemlock pine cones around my hands and feet. After what felt to be almost an hour of deep relaxation, I began to reopen my eyes and take in the sights around me. Having fixated my gaze upon a large rock, I began to take in every detail from how the white lichen upon its surface contrasted with the dark, cold surface of the rock itself. Having stared at the rock for some time without breaking my gaze, I began to wonder how it ended up here in Belknap Woods. Was this rock a result of glacial deposition, or from something else? What is the story behind how it got here? I averted my gaze from the large boulder in front of me and focused on my own breathing for a few moments. By the time the meditation session was completed, I felt a sense of peace and relaxation that I had not felt in a long time.
Our mindfulness walk came at a perfect time to mitigate the stresses of day to day life. Today’s fast-paced day-to-day lifestyle often does not allow us to stop and enjoy the simple things in life. Mindfulness techniques such as the type we practiced at Belknap Woods are incredibly important for maintaining a healthy balance in life. Through this brief practice, I was able to feel my day-to-day stressors melt away almost instantly. I hope to remain conscious of implementing this mindfulness practice into my daily life as well as sharing this practice with others.
Kat is serving as a Watershed Resources Assistant at the Squam Lakes Association. Her favorite sweet treat? Mint chocolate chip ice cream. Learn more about Kat here!