Be Still...Reconnect

Remember when you were a small person and a shiny stone kept you mesmerised for half an hour?
Leaves and sticks were endlessly fascinating? And you could make cool stuff with them. 
Dew in the morning was like diamonds in the grass?
And puddles!!!!!!  Creeks, lakes, rockpools. Sheer magic! (Occasionally muddy magic, but that was OK too!) 
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We  keep talk ing about escaping from the "real word",  meaning the demanding, rapid, tech-saturated one. But that magic childhood natural world is just as real and it's still there waiting patiently for us to reconnect. Sometimes we need a little coaxing. ​

That's what inspired "Be  Still - Reconnect",  seven days of nature-focused reflections, a gentle guide to help you notice tiny marvels waiting right outside your door (or  windows). It's time to pause and take a moment, or as many moments as you need. Give yourself permission to play. (Yes, I bang on about permisssion to pay quite a bit, but only because play is so important, especially for grown-ups!) 
Have a practice today:
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• Follow the path of an ant for one full minute.
• Find a cloud and imagine its secret life.
• Listen for the quietest sound you can hear.
• Hunt for a rock with unexpected colour or sparkle.
• Close your eyes and count how many bird calls you notice.
• Hold a leaf to the light and trace its tiny rivers.

Last blog post we chatted about the benefits of hanging nature photography in your home. (Yes, alright, it was a one-sided chat!). Sometimes, though,  we do need to actually step outside. Or at least stick head and shoulders out a window! Research shows that even gentle, everyday encounters matter. Yes,  for the science-y types, there is actual research. If you'd like to dive deeper I'll add links at the end. 

​I designed 'Be Still - Reconnect' so that you could carry it with you conveniently on your mobile device (we may be all about  getting back to nature, but we're also realists)  and essentially choose your own adventure. There are reflection tips for the sit-and -thinkers, journalling prompts for the writers, action prompts for the do-ers and creative prompts for....well, everyone, because we  ARE all creative beings. I believe I've mentioned that in earlier posts, go back and check out The Picasso Solution.  (At your leisure!)  The creative prompts are open-ended, simple and you can take pics and play with them on your phone. (May as well put the tech to good use! Revisit the Snap Happy post)  Be Still  - Reconnect also offers gentle encouragement and inspiration to the  - what shall we call us - practicing creatives, who might be feeling a bit blocked or need a kickstart for regular practice.  Something for everyone.  (Teachers, outside-school educators, small group leaders, it's something for you too!) 

“Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.” - Kurt Vonnegut. ​

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​Pop over to the new Creative Connections section of our shop  where we'll be adding resources to inspire and develop creativity and wellbeing. The full  'Be Still  - Reconnect'  7-Day program is available to download at a special introductory price for a limited time. But first ......try a sample? We're happy to  share with our inner circle (our LightSplashes e-news subscribers) a mini-program , the first 3 days of "Be Still  - Reconnect" . Drop your email addy into any of the forms on this site and you'll be taken to the freebie downloads. Give yourself the gift of a mini-retreat. The benefits will last much longer than your morning coffee!  We'd love to hear how you've used it, and if you're a sharer on social media, please tag us @lightsplashes in your creative responses.  

​Now, as promised, the science-y stuff. 

• Short daily “doses of green” improve mood and focus in as little as 15 minutes
  – Loughborough University
• Green spaces are linked to lower blood pressure and better sleep
  – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Just 10 minutes of nature exposure can reduce stress and anxiety
  – MDPI Study
• Reviews show consistent mental and physical health benefits
  – Meta-analysis
• Natural settings help restore attention and refresh mental energy
  – Attention Restoration Theory

Convinced? What are you waiting for? Sign up for the free sample or download the full version now