Slowing down to see…
This post originally appeared in Dr. Rachel A. Larimore’s weekly Samara newsletter on August 3, 2021. If you’re interested in receiving these emails, scroll to the bottom of this page to subscribe.
How are things in your world? I hope you’re doing well and finding moments of serenity in what continues to be a stressful, worrisome time.
A couple days ago it was an absolutely beautiful, cool and sunny late Summer morning. As I was getting ready for the day, I found myself leaning on the bathroom windowsill totally mesmerized by a juvenile robin. It was balanced on the edge of the miniature pool I have for my dog Hank. It kept leaning down like it really wanted to get a drink or even splash in the water but was unsure.
The young bird eventually moved to the patio table where it was watching another robin furiously looking for insects in my gutters. (Yeah, I really need to clean those, but the birds!) I realized I was curiously watching a curious young bird curiously watch another bird. Then I was distracted by a red squirrel walking the top of the fence and two house sparrows squawking. Not what most would describe as thrilling entertainment. And yet—it WAS thrilling!
That’s when it occurred to me—this is what nature-based learning and connection is all about. It’s about slowing down long enough to see the dynamics of a moment. Nature is ever-changing and never the same twice. That’s part of the wonder of it all.
The robin moment also reminded me of the power of what Bridget Butler* (The Bird Diva) calls Slow Birding. The idea is to deepen our observations, listening, and connection. As I looked out the window, I realized I’d never really looked carefully at the markings of a juvenile robin. (The speckled breast, that is characteristic of thrushes, was so distinct on this young one!) I was also giggling as it considered leaping into the pool—an emotional connection!
My seemingly absent-minded moment looking out the window highlights that nature connection isn’t “somewhere else.” Nature is where we are, it’s part of us, it’s everywhere! If you’ve attended a workshop with me or read my books you’ve heard me talk about disrupting the human/nature divide, what counts as “nature,” and where nature is. The very human-built backyard patio space with the plastic pool, patio furniture, and fence aren’t what most would define as “natural” and yet nature was all around—waiting for me to pause and notice.
For many, August marks the return to the frenzy of the school year, but I hope you’ll be able to find a few more moments to pause and notice the wonders of nature for yourself. In the process I hope you’ll also be reminded that…
🍃 this work is important and magical!
🍃 nature is everywhere—even in the most urban spaces—we just have to pause and notice
Keep changing lives,
Rachel
Rachel A. Larimore, Ph.D., Chief Visionary of Samara Learning
*Bridget Butler (aka, “The Bird Diva”) presented a Focus Call within The Grove community. You can access this recording by joining The Grove today!
About Rachel
Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, speaker, consultant, author, and former nature-based preschool director. As the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning her work focuses on helping early childhood educators start nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches into their existing program. Learn more about Rachel here.
