I realize every time I open my phone these days and see a news headline or open social media, my heart sinks, my head hurts, and I finally understand what “doom scrolling” means.
Because of this, I realized I needed to get off my phone and get outside and into the forest. I wrote a little blog entry about my walk in the forest the other day and I thought I would share it. It gave me a moment of rest and a resurgence of hope, and I hope it can do the same for you.
Please remember I am here for you. If you’d like to come in for an appt let me know. The holistic services I offer can help you sync back into your personal space of peace and reclaim your personal power to help you rise and move through these unchartered waters with strength and clarity.
Here is my blog post about finding hope in a winter forest inspired by a morning walk in the woods and the children groups I lead through Nature connection activities:
“Stepping into the entrance of the forest near my home, I’m surrounded by towering cedar, oak, and tulip poplar trees. Their bare branches—shades of gray and brown—stretch skyward toward the soft white clouds and the overcast winter sky. Beneath me, a fresh blanket of snow covers the earth, hiding the tangled roots below. The snow feels light and fluffy under my feet, and as I look down, I notice a flurry of fresh animal tracks. as if the forest creatures had a party here last night 🙂 I see clear squirell prints going every which way, deer prints walking in a straight line and even fox prints too. It makes me wonder what was happening around here?
As I walk a little further out, a herd of about 30 deer stop in their tracks and we both stare at eachother. A few turn away from me ready to flee with their white tails up in the air. As I continue to walk – they stay and I can feel them watching me. The life in the forest is alive and well despite the freezing temperatures and naked tree branches awaiting new foliage. As I round a corner I almost walk on top of a holly tree sprout. The first green I have seen in this forest today. It immediately makes me smile.
The holly tree is a very sacred tree in Celtic mythology, representing peace, hope and goodwill. Holly leaves resist lightning and they used to be planted near peoples homes to protect them from lightening strikes! Because of their spiked leaves it is a wonderful abode for birds to protect them from predators and when their flowers bloom in the springtime their scent is beloved by the bees and butterflies 🙂 As an evergreen, no matter how dire it feels some days to me out in the bare bones of a winter forest the life represented in those green leaves bring me immediate warmth and joy. It is a good reminder that the leaves on all the trees will sprout again, flowers will bloom, and we will soon hear the buzzing of pollinators.
Seeing this little sprout of the holly tree peek through the snow reminds me of the opening circle we held during one of our homeschool programs I co-lead. We had asked the kids what they most loved about Nature. A handful of those students who had been with us for a while thoughtfully answered in various ways that ‘being out in nature was very calming for them, it was peaceful, and made them happy.’
Their words stayed with me. In a world where time outdoors often requires deliberate effort, these moments of deep connection to nature feel even more significant. Seeing their heartfelt appreciation for the natural world gave me a profound sense of hope—much like that small holly sprout breaking through the snow.
When children experience the beauty and stillness of nature, it plants seeds of wonder and reverence that can ripple outward in ways we may never fully realize. And just like the holly’s evergreen leaves, that hope endures.”
In partnership for a healthier, peaceful, and just world rooted in respect, dignity, compassion, and love,
Laura Rose, L.Ac., M.Ac., CYT