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It seems to be strange to be writing about better times ahead on a day when the view from my window is obscured by a thick blanket of grey mist that limits my world even more so than current lockdown restrictions. The weather forecast, however, tells me that the mist will lift, and we’ll witness some sunny intervals this afternoon, and it’s that prospect of warmer, sunnier days that gives me reason for optimism in otherwise grey days.
Right now, more than ever, it’s important to embrace a positive mindset as much as possible. On a recent visit to my local woods to record a short video for an online learning project I’m working on, I talked about the early signs of spring and how the knowledge that warmer, longer days are coming was important for the creation of a positive mindset. With the addition of a couple of simple mindfulness activities being outside has a grounding effect that re-affirms the cyclical nature of the seasons which acts as a powerful incentive to look forward with optimism.
View Pat’s short video:
Personally, I’ve found whenever I find I’m experiencing a dip in energy, the creeping pressure of a work commitment, or this year, the worries about friends and family and their wellbeing under lockdown, that time out in nature helps me to move away from any pessimistic thoughts. If I stay and observe, then I slowly move towards a more positive state. By focussing on a plant, or a view across a quiet valley, or cloud-watching, I can be inspired to both know more and to relax, but curiously, I can also be more creative and it’s surprising how often a solution to an issue, or a new idea emerges from these quieter reflective moments.
Mixing a walk with observing and understanding can also be fun and the sudden bursts of energy associated with a new discovery can be uplifting. I recently discovered an app called Seek produced by iNaturalist, which is a joint initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. The app allows you record and track your encounters with plants and animals while contributing to global scientific understanding of species distribution and I’ve learned a huge amount about the plants that inhabit the woods and fields around my local area, which has become in itself a motivation to get out and explore. This exploration and discovery has a profound uplifting effect that carries back into the everyday and as we move into Spring and those warmer days then there will be more to see and the rewards will be greater in every sense.
Pat Milston has enjoyed a long career promoting an enjoyment of the outdoors, including as an educator where his work as a geography and PE teacher took him on many field trips, sports tours and extra-curricular adventures. Upon leaving teaching, Pat entered the world of managing overseas youth expeditions, going on to become a senior manager in established major companies and leading teams across the globe. His current role as Programmes Development Director at Active Learning Group sees him sitting with a foot in both worlds: working with schools to develop and promote their own outdoor learning programmes while working with ALG brands and partners to ensure the delivery of high quality outdoor learning on behalf of those same schools and students, and their wider client base.
