Cover photo: The Blue Lagoon, in Iceland

     What is Creationmorphosis? It’s being changed, transformed by being out in nature.  I’d like to help people realize they need a little time for themselves to be a happier and healthier person.  Like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly, “Creationmorphosis” can make you a better person. We all know that nature is calming, restorative, it can also help you as an individual have a better quality of life, by giving you a break, a time to renew yourself. Once we’re feeling renewed, we are better able to help others. God’s creative works are my way of renewing my inner self.

 

 

Almost everyone is under a higher level of stress these days. Reasons are varied. But the commonality is the need to lessen and manage the stress for the sake of ourselves and our loved ones. Caregivers especially need a break. As they care for the same person or persons daily, friction builds, and the release of steam can be positive or negative. Scheduling that time away for yourself enjoying nature helps the release of tensions and is positive and upbuilding. It can also be life-saving, as stress is such a threat to our health. And remember that the one being cared for may need a break from you too! Of course this idea transcends the area of caregiving. All stressful situations require taking a break to be able to continue, while maintaining a measure of good health and joy of life. I suppose I write about caregiving because that was my situation. But we all know our own pain and can feel the need for a break, whatever the cause.

RX:  An hour a day, a day a week, a week a year.

The inspiration for this prescription for mental health and overall well-being came from two sources. My epiphany came upon reading the book by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, “Gift of the Sea.” I highly recommend this little gem. My copy is thoroughly worn, dog eared and underlined. She recommends just that exact prescription as I mentioned in the subheading, an hour a day, a day a week, and a week a year to yourself. I have my own tweaked version of that which I’ll mention in a minute.   Another inspiration to me regarding this idea is the Bible, which says at Proverbs 14:30: “A calm heart gives health to the body.” – footnote, New World Translation. So if we take steps to make our heart calm, it benefits our health.

I have had the goal for many years now of taking time for myself for an hour a day, a day a week, and a week a year. I say goal, because realistically, it sometimes falls through. I’d say that I get that day a week most of the time, and the hour a day probably half the time. The week a year I do not take by myself, but with my husband. I really look forward to that because as we lead separate busy lives, that time together rekindles our relationship. Sometimes I get an extra week or part of a week away with one of my grown daughters.  Though these big trips are not strictly time to myself, they have served to strengthen our relationships with each other, and in doing that, it enables a network of trust and love that lessens stress in daily life when we return. So my twist on Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s idea is a bit different, but I imagine my life, as well as yours, is different than hers also. If we are married or have children, certainly care and time should be taken to care for those relationships as well as your own physical and mental health. Maybe a day a month, with the help and support of your mate, would be more reasonable than a day a week. Then you have time to spend with your family the other days.  The day a week or month could even be spent one-on-one with each child or your mate. And at different points in your life, the hour a day for yourself may need be taken in your own home, after the kids are asleep. I’ve certainly done that myself in years past. If you have a child with a disability though, it may help you get through the week to have that day to yourself. As each family is different, so this concept needs to be adjusted for each family. But however you tweek it,  I feel that this idea of an hour a day, a day a week and a week a year can help you immensely. It’s like a motor vehicle, you have to refuel it or it doesn’t work anymore. The same is true with our minds and bodies and our close relationships. They need time to refuel.

 

The benefits of taking time for yourself regularly are not just during that hour, day, or week, it’s the looking forward to and the reminiscing after. You can let your mind wander away from a particularly trying time and think of your future plans, as in “This afternoon I’m going to walk by that cove and see what migrating birds there are today”. Or, “Next Monday I think ill use my day to go to the museum and sit in front of that favorite painting and try to sketch it this time.” Better yet, “In the spring I’m going to my next nature destination for a week.” Then afterwards, if you’ve journaled or taken photographs while you were on your trip, many an evening or hour to yourself can be spent reliving those times.

 

It may take a bit of resourcefulness to grab this time for yourself and have someone else take over your duties , but it’s well worth it. There are certainly places I wouldn’t go to or times I wouldn’t be out when I’m by myself that I would when with others.   We can enjoy nature in our own backyards or out our window. And it doesn’t matter for how long you go, but that you do what you can to carve out some time for yourself, and in the process, you’ll be a happier, healthier person, and more willing and able to perform your daily routine.

AMAZING CREATIONS

Since I particularly love the wildlife of each place I visit, I’d like to highlight species that I’ve seen in my travels and tell a bit about them. Specifically, I’d like to say why they are

incredible to me. I also feel that looking at our natural world each day relaxes us.

But it has benefits of a much higher value than relaxation: taking time to contemplate the beauty, diversity and harmony of creation helps us learn about, appreciate and draw closer to the intelligence behind all this wonder, our Grand Creator.