Nature | With an Open Heart

May 20

The Joy of a Warm Summer Day

This post is part of The Awakened Heart Project

Week 21: The Joy of a Warm Summer Day

“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

All I Want To Do Is Sit In The Sun

I don’t know about you, but here in Minnesota, we’re really getting the start of spring and summer these days. Sure it’s been raining quite a bit this week, but when it’s not, and the sun is shining, there is nothing I want to do more than to be outside. I don’t always find the time to write these posts prior to Monday’s, so sometimes I find myself feeling very conflicted without my time. Today, I spent some time this morning putting together the patio table and chairs for the deck just so I could type outside. Right now it’s sunny and beautiful but come this afternoon, storms will be back in the sky.

What’s the point of me telling you this you ask? Every chance you get to do something that brings you peace, happiness, and joy, you should take it. A moment outside might seem insignificant, especially if you live somewhere where the seasons don’t change, but for me it’s incredibly important. I NEED the sun. My body, mind, and spirit instantly feel reconnected and exuberated when I’m outside and the sun is shinning. The warmth on my skin brings me soo much comfort. It’s almost hard for me to explain the affinity I have for hot summer days; there is just something about it that overwhelms me with happiness. I’m especially grateful today as I know rain will soon be upon me.

Every one of us will have Read more

Dec 7

19 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons

This is my first Weekly Photo Challenge and I’m kind of excited about it! I love photography so these sorts of activities are quite for me. However, when I saw that the challenge was about “changing seasons”, I thought, “Uh, noooo!!! I don’t like changing seasons!” I live in Minnesota, so changing seasons this time of year means snow, cold, ice, gray skies, more snow, shovels, shivers, and more cold (I really do need to live in warmer climate). Every year I think, this is the year I will not hate winter, but then it snows, and all I see is gray and all I feel is cold. Isn’t it ironic that just as I opened up my computer, and began looking over the Weekly Photo Challenge, my eyes were drawn to the window, where in that moment, snow had begun slowly falling out of the gray sky.

A Progression of Snowfall in Minnesota taken over 24 hours

Did you find this post inspiring / Thought provoking / Worth reading? Share it with your friends!

Apr 23

1 Comment

Weekly Gratitude: Tiny Pleasures from Nature and Friendship

This past week busy, busy, busy! I hardly had a moment to rest. But it was a very productive week nonetheless.

As a part of my commitment to self-care I tried very hard to make a conscious effort to give myself some time to just chill and do things for my own enjoyment. Making time for myself made a world of difference in my mood and ability to cope. I certainly hope to make a commitment to this new habit that almost always go to the back burner. Read more

Mar 13

2 Comments

Can You Ask For Anything More Than Sunshine??

It’s SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY in Minnesota!! It’s March and it’s 61 degrees outside. In Minnesota! Crazy, but I’m going to take it. There is nothing I like more than sunshine; how it heats up my body, how it glimmers through the sky and onto everything around me. My whole world seems better when the sun is out. I see things more clearly, and feel much more balanced. This makes Minnesota winters difficult, and I honestly despise them, but I will not complain this year. This year was wonderful!