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Kate Campbell's avatar

Yes! I feel like I'm constantly telling people to 'notice more', and this is why! Nature is so inspirational and like you say, good for us. I'm going to go and read the National Trust findings now! Thanks so much. Beautifully written and on a topic I am also so behind! ☘️❤️

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Thanks Kate - yes, the report makes for very interesting reading and I liked the focus on what the barriers were to people connecting with nature, which need to be overcome. There's also a whole section on an action plan for change, which includes what the Trust plans to advocate for with government, but obviously this could be supported by lots of individual actions...

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Terje Äkke's avatar

Your post spoke to me. For me noticing is in a way part of mindfulness. For your question about what I noticed lately: yesterday I saw a ladybug on a sunflower and that I took time to observe.

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Ali Edwards's avatar

I'm so glad to hear it, Terje! Noticing is definitely connected to mindfulness, I agree.

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Jane McParkes's avatar

Autumn is such a fabulous time to stop and watch.

I really envy your talent!

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Thanks Jane - although drawing and painting are basically 'learnt' skills that improve with practice. I couldn't draw like this 2 or 3 years ago, but I've been drawing regularly and taking classes on technique, etc, and now I'm at a point where things are recognisable!

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Jane McParkes's avatar

My daughter's an Art Teacher and she says that too. Her pupils always ask her how she is so good and she says it's because she draws every day of her life.

Having said that, she hasn't tried to teach me 😳.

But I guess the same is true with most things - the more you do it, the better you get.

It helps if you have a basic talent though - which you obviously do!

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Caroline Harris's avatar

Oh I love so much in this post! The acorn photo is beautiful, your stunning drawings and so many brilliant tips to slow down and allow nature to help us do that.

It's crazy the % of people that don't watch the clouds, that was a regular thing for me to do as a kid - it reminds me of a poem I wrote earlier this year when a blue sky was a rarity after such a long Winter and I was enjoying laying in the garden looking up at the clouds and their shifting shapes. You've inspired me to post it ;)

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Ali Edwards's avatar

Cloud-watching is one of my very favourite pastimes (next to bird watching) - although maybe this is because I live in Northumberland where we have big skies and lots of weather?! I know when I lived in the South East the sky and the clouds didn't enter my consciousness as much as the horizon just felt closer. Can't wait to read your poem ☁️ 💚

Also - you should see the number of terrible, blurry photos that I have to delete from my phone's camera roll on a regular basis! I was very pleased that the acorns came out nicely!!

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