Neighbourhood Adventuring: Fair Weather OR All Weather? by Kim Fulton
It seems like the change of the season starts earlier and earlier. As soon as the calendar shifts from July to August, we’re met with all the Back-to-School vibes. And now that we’ve turned the calendar again, from August to September, it feels like full-on Fall! Sweater Weather and Pumpkin- Spiced Lattes, here we come!! But Nature tells a slightly different story — one where the progression
I call it my Neighbourhood Adventuring. But name aside, the appreciation of the sequence, the pace and the timing of what happens in nature is a wonderful way to restore balance and harmony within. Ancient tradition knew the connection between health/longevity and nature (because we are nature) and honoured it. And even though our human-made, fast-paced lifestyle may not reflect much that is natural – our neighbourhood seems to have been created with nature in mind. It’s filled with wonderful ways to enjoy all seasons! Yes, we have the parks, pools and Boler Mountain. But we also have an abundance of lovely, well-maintained paths and trails – for most of us, just steps away from our front doors. Even a walk around the block is enough to reconnect and restore a bit of harmony and keep us in the flow of it. We may not be able to change what’s on the grocery store shelves or the marketing/advertising engines of the world, but we can take simple steps to connect with and harmonize ourselves with the pace and flow and nature – by simply stepping out your front door!! Can we become All-Weather Neighbourhood Adventurers? Kim Fulton grew up in Byron and returned to our community 21 years ago with her husband and children. When she’s not “neighbourhood adventuring”, Kim is a Yoga & Ayurvedic Life and Wellness Coach who specializes in Stress Management, supporting clients through her coaching and wellness programs. She also teaches Yoga Classes in the neighbourhood. www.kimfulton.ca/wellness
and the transitions are more measured and, dare I say, graceful. As humans, we have a choice: to move with the flow of nature or to create our own pace and rhythm. Needless to say, the former choice is more harmonious than the latter, but despite this fact, our human-made pace seems to prevail more often than not. There’s no better way of connecting with nature than getting outdoors. However, it’s easier said than done when the weather turns cooler and colder as we shift through Fall and into Winter. In fact, as early as September, we often just get busier as activities get re-started. Mirroring the shorter daylight hours, our time outdoors also shortens. One of the tricks I use to keep me connected with nature is, while out for a walk (even just a short one around the block), to pick something – most often a tree or a plant – and then return to it again and again. Over the years, I’ve learned a little about what to expect in the coming season, but I am regularly delighted by how the rhythms of nature ebb and flow. The lilacs on the trail between Wickerson and Chalet Crescent return at slightly different times. The mulberries I find on the path between St. Theresa’s and Ski Valley Crescent sometimes keep me waiting. As does the brilliant yellow of the goldenrod in what I discovered is Crestwood Woods (cared for by the Fox & Robin Neighbourhood Group). The colours of the trees seem to sometimes take forever to appear and then suddenly the leaves drop. And don’t even get me started on the snow!! Each year, the season unfolds in just a slightly different way. It’s in this way that we can experience the fullness of the season and the subtle shifts that occur.
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September 2024 Page 3
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