You will never go wrong by spending time enjoying nature. There is something particularly special about walking in the woods. Your steps will feel lighter, a deep sense of inner quiet will flood your entire body and your creativity will flood your entire body and your creativity will flourish. As the famed Italian architect and painter Leonardo da Vinci said, “Through the window of the eye, the soul regards the world’s beauty… Who would believe that a small scene of nature could contain the images of the universe?”
My favourite time of year is autumn. The leaves on the trees reflect the brilliant colours of the season and it’s the perfect time for long walks in the woods. Away from the noise of the city, the values I hold dearest grow clearer and I can contemplate some of life’s larger questions, questions that never seem to get answered in the normal crush of the daily routine. I can stop by a small stream and relax on a moss-covered rock or inhale the fragrances that only those who walk in the woods truly experience.
When I leave this oasis of nature, I am a new man. I’m more alert, more energized and more alive. Many of the great wisdom traditions have emphasized the restorative power of regular walks in the woods. This life-giving discipline never fails to yield a bounty of welcome results.
Excerpt from Who WIll Cry When You Die by Robin Sharma. www.robinsharma.com