Falling in love with nature after 50 can help you find fulfillment, joy, and peace.

I woke up this morning to a bright sun that appeared to be rising out of Lake Michigan. “Good morning, sun!” I said aloud, then became immediately enraptured by its glow upon the lake, looking like diamond crystals from the sun’s rays. My inner voice said, “There is no better way to start the day than with nature.”

“Nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.” – Unknown

I la de da’d into the kitchen, turned on my favorite music on Google Nest Hub Max (one of my all-time favorite purchases!), made a pot of freshly brewed coffee, and took out a morning snack for my pooch, America, who I knew would be by my side shortly. Sure enough, I was not wrong. He walked in with his waggly tail and gave me tons of licks. With a laugh, I petted and kissed him with 100 fast kisses then gave him his treat.

*Affiliate disclosure.

Why Nature Matters to Me

I love to escape from the outer world into the inner world of awe, wonder, and amazement — the world of nature after 50. My love extends to the sea, forests, rocks and mountains, crystals, streams, wildlife and flowers, and everything that has not been touched by human hands. As I have expressed in my past musings, the four loves in my life are my Ultimate Concierge, my pooch America, my family, and nature.

“I do believe in magical happenings and I know everything happens for a reason. Why?  Look at the color of the sky, the color of the trees and grass – how they blend making a wonderful portrait.  There are no accidents, sweet readers.” — Honey Good

Today I thought I would tell you why and how nature affects my life in such a grand way. And how she helps me through the rain; without a word of direction. Some books that I have loved on the topic of nature that inspired me to write this story, as a matter of fact, are The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, and a beautiful art book I have had for ages, One Hundred Sea Shells by Harold Feinstein. These books are not new, but neither is nature! I recommend them. They are ‘natural gems.’

Daydreaming Through Nature After 50

We all need an escape. We become overtaxed. I become overtaxed. One of the ways I cope when I am overtaxed is to daydream. Daydreaming is not facing reality and is a great escape. Daydreaming is a series of pleasant thoughts that distract attention from the present. It is a healthy escape when you feel like packing it up and getting out of dodge. Daydreams expose your inner yearnings. And pave the way to turn wishes into reality.

My Recurring Nature Daydream

In my daydreams, nature always seems to play a role. I see myself with my pooch, America, walking down an amazing beach somewhere. The sand under my feet feels like sifted flour, reminding me of the sandy beaches in Sarasota. I am on the sea somewhere, and thankfully, millions of miles away in my mind from my troubles.

The Sea is as calm as a sheet of glass. So calm I see the reflection of my Ultimate Concierge sitting on the beach with a Cuban Cigar in one hand, a paperback in the other. At no time does he take his eyes off of me. I smile. He is my lifeguard.

I Smile and Sigh as I Daydream…

Looking at the cloudless sky above in its’ stunning, peaceful shade of blue herring, the soft sound of quiet waves touching the sand, and feeling the trade winds gently brush my skin puts me in a state of calm.

It is early morning, the sun in the east has lifted herself out of the sea, spreading light over the water that suddenly gives the illusion of sparkling diamonds. I don’t have a care in the world because I have escaped whatever is bothering me for the time being. I’ve got my ultimate concierge, my pooch, my family, and last but not least, the healing effects of nature in all her glory.

What more can I ask for as a woman over 50? Nothing.

The beauties in nature always play a leading role when I daydream; she calms the rough waters in my mind, and that serves my purpose for eventual and positive re-entry into the now.

Falling in Love With Nature After 50

The ultimate purpose of implementing nature into daydreams is to clear out cluttered thoughts so you can refocus with clarity. Nature restores and invigorates. It also teaches us lessons. Our wellness and creativity are boosted by nature. Nature has its way of taking us back to the basics. As a woman over 50, I know that nature is the greatest spiritual tool.

Kankakee by the Sea and Honolulu Was Not a Dream

I will always be that small town girl from Kankakee by the Sea, with style! The town taught me much, my mother taught me style. I see myself as a mix of the sun, the ever-changing sea, the wind, and the twinkling stars in the sky. I cannot help that I always have nature on my mind.

My life journey continued in Honolulu. It was the perfect setting to spend my entire adult life. How lucky I was to live in the middle of a garden — the entire Island! I thrived on living a simple lifestyle. I needed very little and hardly shopped.

My daily outfits consisted of a tee shirt, flip flops, and white pants or shorts. I was not enraptured with material possession. Rather, I was enraptured with filling our home with orchids, trees, and pets! I had banana trees and mango trees! They were my version of material possessions.

Friendship and Nature

How would you describe your friends? Do they exemplify the attributes of nature? Not all of mine do.

On the surface, you do not perceive me to be a small town girl. But, trust me, I am and I know who I am. I am not complicated, and I don’t like navigating a complicated world. Nor do I like spending my time with women who have complicated agendas. Though I must admit I have friends who are complicated. Most women are.

My few complicated friends stay on my radar because they bring something to the table that makes me happy. However, I cannot compare them to nature. They do not bring tranquility to my table, they are too complicated. It creates chaos when you must figure out a woman’s agenda, I don’t care for that.

Girlfriends Like Nature After 50

But my close friends are like nature at their best — grounding, reliable, and timeless. My best friends are like the sun, the sea, the sky, and the morning dew. They bring joy, like nature after 50. They are ageless, and they are true blue. I can be spiritually naked with my true friends. How lucky is that to be a woman over 50 with relationships that remind me of nature at her best?

Life in Elsewhere

We are living our life as women over 50 in a complex and unkind world. We can feel tempted to live in the past rather than embrace ourselves at this age. Nature helps us focus on now and being present. Staying in touch with nature is very helpful. It oozes tranquility, and if you allow yourself to indulge, nature can purify your thoughts and heal your mind.

I make a habit of filling my world with flora, fauna, landscape, and scenery in daydreams and in real life. Darling, I suggest you consider bringing the natural world not only into your daydreams but also into your home. Trust me, you will feel more clarity and peace.

Nature Is No Accident

I want to share another story that illuminates what can happen when you embrace nature and what I believe to be true serendipity.

For those of you who do not know the definition of a dreamcatcher: The dreamcatcher is shaped like a circle of life. The native American Ojibwe tribe is responsible for the creation of the dreamcatcher. The web in the center is responsible for catching bad dreams and evil spirits during the night while the good dreams slide through the web down the feathers to reach the sleeping person. The dream catcher provides spiritual protection.

Serendipity Calls

Last Sunday in the early morning I walked two miles around the track with a girlfriend. On our first go-around I saw a dreamcatcher hanging on the fence that surrounds the track! My eyes lit up as I wondered, “Did someone leave it by accident or did someone leave it for me?” I decided I would take it home with me if someone did not claim it within the hour of our walk.

No one came back for it and I joyfully  accepted it as a gift that was left especially  for me. Finding the dreamcatcher made my day and actually the following days because I do believe in magical happenings and I know everything happens for a reason. Why?  Look at the color of the sky, the color of the trees and grass – how they blend making a wonderful portrait.  There are no accidents, sweet readers.

Upon arriving home I settled down with my dreamcatcher and day dreamed about my wishes. One of my wishes was hearing from one of my grandsons. I swear two hours later I picked up my phone to look at my text messages and lo and behold one of my messages was from that grandson. Sweet reader, like nature, there are no accidents!

If serendipity does not bring you a dreamcatcher and you would like to purchase one, please do so responsibly and only buy from Native artisans. I found some beautiful dreamcatchers on Etsy, but please do your homework and follow the purchase trail. Just because someone lists it as Native-made, sadly, does not always mean it is.

How to Bring Nature Inside

1. Make plants a part of your décor.

I have orchid plants and other plants and flowers in every room of our home.

2.  Grow an herb garden indoors.

As I have embraced nature after 50, I have created a small indoor herb and spice garden sitting on a window sill. I am growing cilantro, lavender, mint, lemon verbena, etc., that spread lovely natural aromas throughout the room.

3. Open the curtains!

Our windows are uncovered. We have no drapes and no shades. Because of this, the sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, and Lake Michigan fill our home. I have invited nature inside our four walls.

4. Decorate with natural colors and textures.

Our bedroom colors are white and shades of natural green which evokes tranquility and feels peaceful like being in nature.

5. Visit the florist.

Each week during the summer, I bring home freshly cut flowers from our neighborhood florist or market across the street.

6. Make an effort to create.

I always have a project with nature after 50! Sometimes it is creating bouquets, sometimes it is planting more herbs, but it is always soothing.

My Amaryllis Project

For one of my nature projects, I decided to grow seedlings and bulbs inside my home! Kankakee by the Sea and Honolulu never leave my soul.

I grew an Amaryllis bulb! OMG, the joy it brought. It was sent to me as a gift from a new friend, Dawn, at White Flower Farm. I suggest shopping at White Flower Farm. When the last bloom fell, I cut back the leaves. Over the next several months, the leaves grew back, and the last photo (see above), shows my Amaryllis in its final stage of replenishing its depleted food reserves through its leaves. How special is that!

…and now, back to “How to Bring Nature Inside”

7. Buy natural products — they connect you to nature.

Burt’s Beeswax Lip Balm. It is made with 100% natural products. The original balm has a hint of peppermint oil. I intermittently use green olive oil and coconut oil on my skin from the market.

8. Use natural textiles and fabrics to decorate.

Try to find wool and hemp rugs for the floor, and choose cotton, linen, and other natural fibers for your bedding!

9. Embrace natural shapes and prints.

Instead of striped towels, opt for the floral print. And once you start looking at all the fun styles, you will fall in love with floral wallpaper.

11. Use plants as art.

If you are trying to decorate with nature after 50, you need to check out this preserved plant wall art! Yes, it’s real plants and flowers!

13. Remember that nature isn’t just plants!

When you bring nature inside, don’t forget to include rocks and crystals. Learning about the different crystals and how they can help me is one of my favorite ways to connect with nature. Maybe you should consider starting a rock and crystal collection.

 

Nature After 50: It Surrounds You, Appreciate It

I am always struck by Mother Nature’s color palette. Nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. When I am fixed on nature, I see whatever I am involved in with clarity and lucidity. My mind is as clear and precise as the colored bands of a rainbow.

When you live in a state of nature, you are not influenced by civilization or social constraints. Elsewhere and other problems can’t touch you. You sigh, you see clearly, you listen to your heart, and with clarity … you smile.

Use Nature To Calm Yourself Through a Dilemma

There will always be the daily in-and-out dilemmas that knock on our doors. These problems are frustrating, aggravating, maddening, and usually unexpected. Fortunately, most are solvable.

When a whammy hits, you naturally fall apart. Suddenly you are filled with fear. Your tolerance of the unexpected is no longer tolerable, your anger level rises. Sadness becomes your negative companion. You feel there is little or no hope. Use nature after 50 as a tool to cope, heal, and thrive.

Coping is a skill. You may or may not be great at coping when the unexpected arrives. So darling, in my mind, mother nature is your greatest tool.  She would not be called mother without a very good reason. Amen.

How do you incorporate nature into your daily life? Please share with me in the comments at the bottom of this page. I would love to hear your thoughts! 

If you enjoyed this story about what nature can bring to your life after 50, please subscribe. You may also enjoy reading: How Happiness is a Choice and How to Choose It.

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