Look up!

Paying attention to your surroundings

Worth looking up

Hi there,

I can’t stop looking up at trees: They are magnificent, magical, and grounding. It is amazing what we notice when we actively pay attention to what is around us, when we look up and around. The mundane becomes the most entrancing; beauty is everywhere.

Five things to share:

1. While constantly plugged into our smartphones and the digital world, we miss out on all the beauty the offline world offers. There is a simple trick to paying more attention to the offline world around us: Act like a tourist and look up and around. Look up at trees, buildings, the sky, the clouds, bird mobs, a plastic bag floating aimlessly in the air. It is far more interesting than any memes or recycled Tik Tok videos on your social media feed— I promise.

2. I’m currently reading The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams. If terms like “forest therapy” and “forest-bathing” pique your interest, this book might just be right up your alley.

3. Forest Bathing: Healing in Nature is a short film about forests and the journey to discovering the magical healing powers of nature, and finding ways to reconnect with nature through beautiful nature activities.

4. A quote I want to share with you this week:

   My experience is what I agree to attend to.
   — William James

   What we pay attention to, what we attend to, determines what we experience. What do you want to experience? Pay attention accordingly.

5. To Control Your Life, Control What You Pay Attention To: Attention management is a deliberate approach that puts you back in control. Practicing attention management means fighting back against the distractions and creating opportunities throughout your day to support your priorities.

That’s all for this week!

Thank you for reading, and please share with anyone you think may benefit.

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Until next time,

Mehret