As I write this, I’m on the North Shore of Lake Superior, listening to the waves crashing on the granite rocks and reflecting on how these sounds affect me.
As soon as I arrived at my vacation spot, I breathed deeply and opened the back door to let in the sunlight and sounds. It felt comforting to stand there and listen, taking it all in. Usually, I don’t stop moving during the day. I go from one task to another. Pausing and relaxing into the moment was different, as the sounds of the waves invited me into the present.
Nature’s symphony is vast. Waves breaking on the beach, rain falling through trees and onto rocks, these sounds have a peaceful effect on me and create a visual feast, too. Other sounds, like wind ruffling leaves, birds chirping, fire crackling in a fireplace, and thunder in a storm have a similar effect. The whole experience inspires deep appreciation.
Life-affirming and life-nourishing experiences
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about experiences or environments that nourish and affirm my life. Most of the time, recognizing nourishment is easy. I usually recognize a life-affirming experience by the joy that I feel while I am in the midst of it. For example, when I have a deep and insightful conversation with my clients that sparks wisdom or inspires action, I feel the joy of service, and that nourishes me. But occasionally, I have difficulty noticing when something I am doing or encountering nourishes me. Sometimes nourishment rests beneath my consciousness. On the North Shore, with Lake Superior 10 feet from my back door, it is noticed and celebrated.
Here, I feel more connected to everything, especially Nature. This connection centers me and supports me in living in the present. I feel less restless and more comfortable with “being” instead of “doing.” My life isn’t categorized into productive vs. unproductive time. Instead, life flows within me and through me. As a result, time is more integrated.
Living with Nature’s soundtrack
These reflections and the act of noticing help me tune in to Nature’s soundtrack.
Nature’s sounds are the antidote for the “need to be busy” that I sometimes feel.
My hometown is on the Mississippi River, but I don’t hear the river’s flow because there is a road between my house and the river. At home, the river is quieter than Lake Superior’s giant waves. At home, it’s easier to hear the noise of passing cars and the quiet intervals between them. Man-made noise is not a life-affirming soundtrack. It triggers agitation and a search for activity. Just being on the North Shore for less than a day brings me back to the power of the sound of Nature and its effect on me and the quality of my life. I am called to take time to sit in my backyard, listen to birdsong, and watch the wind flow through the leaves of my 150-year-old oak trees.
Living with Nature’s soundtrack benefits us by reducing noise that drains us. It sharpens our awareness and helps us be present. Nature’s unique sounds allow us to see more clearly what matters and what doesn’t. It strengthens our inner voice and instincts by helping us find our inner rhythms. Nature’s soundtrack can help us hear our own body’s soundtrack, too.
The more I listen, the more I realize how much Nature reveals about what truly sustains me.
What does the sound of Nature teach you about your life and your needs?
