Homework for Thursday, October 21: Being In Nature
1. Go outdoors!
2. Find a spot in a natural (but safe) setting—a spacious back yard, a park, a forest. (Take a friend for safety, but once you get where you’re going, sit far enough away from each other that you won’t distract one another.)
3. Find a place where you can sit or stand comfortably. Settle down, and then just be still and quiet for at least five minutes. No conversation—no iPod—no cell phone—just sit there quietly, paying attention to your environment without thinking about anything else. This may be harder than it sounds!
4. As you rest there, pay attention. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? Try to pay close attention. How does this place make you feel? (It may take more than five minutes to settle in enough to know how you feel in this place! Try to give yourself enough time to relax in this setting and let your feelings arise.)
You do not need to write anything down, although you might jot down some notes at the end of your nature visit if you wish. Please be prepared to write about and/or discuss your experience when you come to class on Thursday, but don’t let the anticipation of this spoil your time outside—try to enjoy this moment of connection with your environment.
