Do you have a favourite spot in nature where you go and just sink into the surroundings? A spot where all worry melts away? A spot where you lose yourself and become recharged in the peaceful energy of the moment?
These spots that hold us while taking ‘me time’ actually have a name! They are known as Sit Spots, and we at Fettle Fields encourage you to grow your collection of Sit Spots as a way to get the most out of this budding season of Spring.
Local councils take pride in their placement of benches, each bench offering a unique view and experience of its natural surroundings. So, as the earth begins its tilt towards the sun and the days become warmer, seek out a local bench whose vantage point will allow you to soak in the emerging life of spring.
Our top tips to getting the most out of your Sit Spot this Spring.
1. Explore your local green spaces in a 'bench hopping' adventure. Spend 3-5 minutes taking in the unique views, sounds and smells of each bench before moving onto the next.
2. Open each of your senses to tap into the unique vibe of each bench.
Begin by taking a deep breath in, lowering your gaze and focusing on the sounds- concentrating on those sounds closest to you at first and then moving your focus out to hear the sounds further into the distance. You might hear birds, the rustle of leaves, children at play, traffic in the distance or even an airplane overhead.
Slowly shift your focus to what you see. Starting at ground level gently scan the area from left to right taking in the details of the soil, grass or concrete before raising your gaze to eye level and scanning any hedges, trees, water sources or possibly the horizon line, before tilting the head upwards to scan the higher level- noticing any details in the treetops and skyline.
Next, taking in another deep breath through the nose, seek to notice any smells- perhaps that of the soil, a nearby tree, or maybe the fragrance of a flower.
And then explore how that particular bench feels. What material is it made of? Is it flat or slightly curved to offer a bit more comfort? Become aware of how the weight of your body feels against the bench and how your feet feel as they rest on the ground.
3. Add a Creative element to the experience by journaling or taking a few photos of an aspect that stands out to you. Using Mindful photography you can seek to capture the detail of how the light might fall on the bud of a flower, or use Mindful journaling to express any feelings conquered by the moment that you’d like to take away with you.
Visiting your Sit Spot regularly this season will allow you to see the subtle changes taking place as dormant organisms reawaken and buds begin to bloom.
And the most exciting aspect may be that sitting in stillness will allow a peek into the lives of the local wildlife, curious birds and squirrels might even become interested in you….as was the case for me when the orange-breasted robin in the photo perched itself on my bench while I sat enjoying the moment from my Sit Spot.
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