Nature – Mindfulness &

Impermanence: noun: the state or fact of lasting for only a limited period of time: “He describes the impermanence of nature’s existence.”

As I was walking through the apartment complex I called home back in Nashville, I noticed with a strange intensity a tree that stood at the back of the apartment. For some time, I sat and stared up at the large oak.

I noticed how the steadfast tree was the perfect example of impermanence.

It rarely moves or falters. Its branches sway and fall, but its trunk stays grounded. Its leaves change color through the seasons and fall softly to cover the ground beneath it, but return again vibrant in the spring. Heavy winds strike its body, but its roots reach deep and wide, holding it steady.

I also noticed the change in my own life, moving seven times in five years, and now to the place I was in then, which was the most comfortable and enjoyable place I had ever lived. I had been so caught in rumination at one moment and then calm and content at another.

Constant changes in nature remind us to step back, letting all things take their course.

And all things live in unison too. Giving, taking, destroying, building, hurting, healing. All things die to provide life (and death) again. Trillions of times a second. It’s as if nature is telling us to create balance and to admire that balance all the while it occurs.

Our admiration of this world sets us apart from all other creatures, plants, and microorganisms. It is an incredible gift to be aware of admiration.

Changes in nature also remind us of an infinite cycle. Plants and animals, bacteria and viruses, all live in accordance with their nature. A symbiotic relationship between every living thing.

Changes in one thing affect everything. The wind, for example, affects the bees mating, the birds nesting, and the trees’ strength. It affects that monsoon that was supposed to go south or the fire that was supposed to go east. It affects us from doing stuff or going places.

The natural world and the human-made world are woven together like an intricate rug. Remembering this daily comes with great appreciation and joy.

When we slow down, step back, and observe these two worlds around us, it opens up the sense of wonder that every child possesses.

Nature’s impermanence is beautifully captured in the steadfastness of a tree. It serves as a reminder that all things change and evolve, yet maintain a certain balance.

The profound interconnectedness of all living beings and their symbiotic relationship is highlighted. Changes in one aspect can have a ripple effect on everything else.

By slowing down and observing the natural world and our surroundings, we can rediscover a sense of wonder and appreciation.

I encourage you (as I encourage myself) to take some time today to explore your immediate environment.

Look for nature in unexpected places, like a bird, a bee, the wind softly against your skin, a striking sunset, a drop of rain, or a steadfast tree.

Take a moment to reflect on the concept of impermanence and how it manifests in your own life.

Three more things:

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