In a few weeks the official start of summer will arrive, but here in NYC, temperatures have already begun to soar. The lush, green newness of spring will ripen into summer’s radiance. The plants, leaves and flowers have budded and bloomed, and the sounds and scents of Life, permeate the air.
While any moment or time of the year can be an impetus for change, summer represents another seasonally grounded moment to Pause and take stock of what you’ve achieved so far, as well as what you’d like to invite to unfold next.
It’s also a great time to consider a meditative “change of scenery”. You might consider getting up from “the cushion” indoors, and venturing outside! Appreciation of Nature’s spectacle can also be a wonderful and restorative part of your mindful meditative practice.
To that end, over the next few weeks I’ll be talking about how you can do just that, but this week I’ll share a particular occasion that started me along the path of such appreciation. To pierce through the apparent limitations of NYC’s “concrete jungle”, and expand my awareness of the softer pockets of Nature that are present here.
My Transformative Awakening
 Early one Friday morning, I literally awoke to an incredibly loud pounding noise, coming from outside. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine what it was. It went on for a bit, stopped, then started again.
Alarmed, I went over to the window and looked out, but didn't see anything. Then, the noise got closer! Now it sounded like it was right under my window! I looked out again, but still couldn’t see anything.
Finally, I stuck my head out of the window and saw that someone was operating some kind of machinery to break up the pavement next to the curb. This section of sidewalk had recently been redone, so I wondered what was going on, and of course, immediately thought the worst.
A little later, as I was leaving for work, I saw my building’s super and asked if he knew what was goin g on. He smiled and said he’d requested the city to plant a couple of trees and they’d finally come to break the ground for the tree pits! Well let me tell you, my initial dread and dismay immediately turned to delight, and this news gave a wonderful lift to the start of my day.
When I got home that evening, two baby trees greeted me from their newly dug homes (one of which is pictured here). It’s been a little over 10 years since that time and they’re much bigger now, but to this day, as I come and go, when I see them, they warm my heart and make me smile.
Permie Peeks: A Blog is Born
And, so it was through the lens of this experience that I began to shift my perspective, not only about the natural world, but my place in it! I also began to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the role Nature plays in enhancing our lived experience, especially in an urban environment, and began seeing and Noticing it in an entirely new way.
I was subsequently inspired to document this growing awareness as well as share it with others through my blog Permie Peeks! If you're curious about the name, hit "Reply" and I'll tell you!
In Mindful Closing…
Over time, you can become habituated to the familiar spaces you occupy or move through on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this can also prevent you from seeing or appreciating what’s unique and special about them. This is definitely easy to do in a place like NYC.
However, Nature offers many lessons about impermanence, letting go of attachment and other key mindful meditative concepts. Growing your awareness in this area can further support your ability to come to terms with those things.
Enroll in my “Mindfulness & Meditation: Refresh & Deepen Your Practice Simply…Beautifully…Uniquely” coaching program and you'll learn to do that and much, much more!
Enrollment is now open and the details are available HERE!
So! This week, try getting outside for a walk, and taking a moment to Pause, Breathe, and Notice the beauty of Nature that’s all around!
Sincerely,
Jill
Founder, Mindful Renaissance
Certified Mindfulness Instructor, 2021
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