Deepened Love for Nature and Creative Reconnection.

As an artist and visual communicator, I am hyper tuned in to this, yet, seemingly, I still lost connection...

Image: A smile inducing little discovery I made whilst on my walk.

Have you ever experienced a moment of realisation? I recently had one, and although it might sound silly to those who know me, I've come to the conclusion that I truly adore nature. My friends are probably sighing, rolling their eyes, and saying, "Venessa, we already knew that." However, this realisation has become even clearer to me. I'm trying to understand the difference between how I recognised my love for nature before and how I perceive it now.

The moment of realisation hit me while I was out on the water during a holiday. Being completely enveloped by nature, far from the ubiquitous hum of the motorway, the banging of car doors, and the sound of traffic was so profoundly peaceful, and when I returned to the city, all of that once easy-to-ignore noise returned and for the first time in a long while, it really jarred me. Despite loving my neighbourhood and its wonderful connectedness, it was just not providing the peace that I experienced while I was away, and this was beyond a simple bout of the 'holiday blues'. I genuinely felt different being separated from the natural surroundings that I had just been immersed in, which is wild because I have access to beautiful outdoor spaces in my neighbourhood. So, after discounting the strategy of immediately-selling-up-and-buy-a-house-in-the-countryside, I took a breath and decided reflect on this realisation instead.

After reflection I decided, that although at some point I may indeed move back to the countryside, that I do still enjoy the access of the city however I also decided not to let go of, in fact, to fiercely cling on to, my newfound appreciation for the natural world.

To honour this connection further, I have made it a priority to dedicate more time to exploring. Taking long walks, being out on the water, or simply sitting quietly amongst the trees. I truly love being in nature. Perhaps, as I continue on my Christian journey, my connection with God through nature has deepened even further. I'm still reflecting on this too, and I don't have all the answers yet. But instead of overthinking it, I'll simply say that I am super happy to rediscover just how much I love nature. That's it. I love it.

Recently I also been wanting to go back to using my digital camera, the actual physical one, not just the one on my phone. I realised it had been years since I'd last used it, and the battery was probably dead. I wasn't sure if the battery was completely beyond repair. Instead of taking the easy way out and buying a new one, I opted to get a charger and hoped it still functioned. It did. I charged the camera and began taking it with me everywhere. Even though we all have cameras on our phones, I always like to have a handheld camera like a Polaroid with me. I enjoy capturing things in a different way.

Yesterday, I spent hours walking, observing trees, and capturing snapshots the clouds over a garden structure. I became fascinated by how terracotta pots, possibly water bells, looked among the green foliage. I walked through gardens, woodland areas, photographing everything. I used both my phone and camera, capturing different depths of field and details. I even used my macro lens, something I hadn't done since college.

Reviewing the photos later, I was amazed by the detail. It made me realise how easy it is to forget the things that bring us joy. As an artist and visual communicator, I am hyper tuned in to this, yet, seemingly, I still lost connection. So whats the key message here; maybe the key message might be about not losing touch with what brings you joy amidst life's chaos. Maybe It's about making time for what refreshes and bolsters your soul, maybe its about us all deepening our love for nature or simply the importance of creative reconnection in general. Im not sure.

But what I am sure of it that many things in life are imperative, food, shelter, work, but it's crucial to focus on what matters to you at your core. This realisation was significant for me. Despite always loving nature, I had seemingly become disconnected. Immersing myself in nature made me see what I'd been neglecting; myself, time for myself, attention to my needs. In essence, this journey back into nature is proving to be a powerful reminder of the importance of self-acknowledgment and self-compassion. It's teaching me that taking time for myself is not an act self indulgence but rather an essential part of living a balanced and energised life.

Okay I think thats it for my Monday musings. I hope you are well, well-rested, and know that you are loved. Let me know what you think you may need to reconnect with, and I'll talk to you soon.

Vee x

Images: Phone pics

Images: Camera pics - Sony Mirrorless