A Random Act of Wildness
Photo by Basil Smith on Unsplash
136,505 people have signed up for the Wildlife Trusts 30 Days Wild so far, which encourages us to do one wild thing a day during the month of June for the sake of “health, wellbeing and the planet”. The task of carrying out one “random act of wildness” a day invites us to spend more time in the outdoors and in nature. June may be nearing its end but I think many of us have put this notion into practice long before the month even began. The advent of lockdown combined with a burst of warmer weather has left many of us desperate for a few moments outside each day to breathe some fresh air, and see something other than the four walls of our homes.
As lockdown begins to relax I hope this is something more people take into their routines beyond June. Spending time in nature can be so nourishing and the whole world could do with a little more nourishment right now.
This period of isolation has been fortuitous in one way, as it has coincided with some lovely weather and allowed us to fully appreciate those small pockets of time we can spend outside. But we must remember that periods of summer sun are not the only times we can enjoy the outdoors. After a few rainy days I have been reminded of my favourite way to relieve the stress of the day: standing beneath the raindrops with my face pointed skywards and feeling the rain hit my skin. This simple act somehow relieves any tensions I’ve been holding onto and refreshes even the most tired of eyes (which is certainly how mine have been feeling lately!).
It’s easy to see rain and immediately retreat indoors, but next time a shower strikes, why not take a moment to stand beneath it and see how you feel. Seek out that small moment of calm that can make the world of difference.