30 Jun 10 joys of being outdoors

Odds are you are going to be outside at some stage this week as it is a holiday week in North America with Canada Day being celebrated on July 1, and Independence Day on July 4.

• In a parade
• Watching fireworks
• Spending time with family and friends

Cottage for the long weekend?

Pay attention to the sights, sounds and smells. Remember how cool the water felt on your hand as you trailed it in the lake, off the canoe. Or the thrill of catch and release with a fish.

Maybe the smell & sticky & sweet of roasted marshmallows!

List of 10

A great exercise to increase our creativity involves making a list of 10. 3 is easy. 5 is a stretch. 10 makes you think hard! (My audience may recognize this little piece of homework).

This is a great activity in groups, and for GenZ, it develops that crucial EQ skill of creativity.

This simple exercise serves another great purpose. It helps us “Make Great Memories” – a tool that has proven to be necessary when we need a serious dose of resilience as we age, life gets faster and more nebulous.

Awareness & Appreciation are simple activities

Intentional awareness is a great action to take in our quest to stay engaged with Climate awareness. It helps us remember why we choose to stay engaged and pay attention to the activities that bring us joy and pleasure.

Here is my current list of 10 on appreciating the outdoors:

1. Watching the wind ruffle the leaves on the trees
2. A dragonfly doing its rounds
3. The blue iris in my garden
4. The single solitary miniscule white puffy cloud in a brilliant blue sky
5. Watching the fireworks
6. The warmth of the sun on my back
7. Our resident red cardinal
8. The scramble and sound of a sudden summer rain shower
9. The chorus and variety of birdsong and calls
10. A bee!

LITTLE ACTIONS. DAILY.

I am continuing daily:

1. Making at least one climate-related decision or action, daily.
2. Discovering something new about the urgency – via blogs, conversations, new technology.
3. Sharing the urgency with people around me.
4. Actively discussing creative solutions.  Because the best idea can come from anyone, anywhere.

Try out the list of 10 especially as we move into the lazy summer months of time on the deck, or by the pool. Who can come up with more than 10?!

CREDIT & THANKS; DEFINITIONS & RESOURCES:

• Inspiration & Motivation: The start of summer and the holiday week.
• List of 10 – James Altucher
• TILT the Future – my new podcast discusses how little ideas, small shifts and minute moments can result in monumental changes in our lives https://karenadesouza.com/blog/
• Find a version of this thought for today article on LinkedIn and Instagram
• Photo, audio & video credits: Headliner app, Canva, Simplecast, creator Karena de Souza