We all know all of our lives have changed since March 2020 due to pandemic. We have to spend most of the time indoors. We adults get occupied in work from home and daily chores but it was a big change for kids who used to spend most of their time with friends playing outside. Shraavi, my 6 year old daughter, was no exception. As she entered 1st Std. in new school this year, she was missing her old friends but was more excited to welcome new friends, teachers and school. She was missing all this but was also enjoying the new 24*7 family time more.
Digital school started where Shraavi could meet her new friends, teachers online. Also she could meet friends and extended family over video call but she was missing meeting them personally and her play time. Also the screen time was more due to online schooling.
Since lock-down me being her only best friend @ home, I thought why not spend more fun times with her and decided some time slots during the day when me and Shraavi have Art time, we read stories together, we play like small kids, tease each other, make funny faces, sing and dance together, cook and eat together, exercise and meditate together, watch cartoons and movies together, play in the rain, enjoy every little thing. It’s not that we did these things for the first time but believe me we enjoyed this time more. Along with her old friends, Aai, Baba, now art & craft, story books became her lovely buddies to enjoy with.
Shraavi was amused when I re-introduced her to the new best friend “Nature”. Like all kids she also loves nature and can easily connect with it. I just helped her to make that bond even stronger. Luckily we have a roadside home with two big balconies with trees around. We started spending pleasant evening times observing and connecting with the beauty of nature around.
Shraavi was excited to see
Many delicate, beautiful, colorful butterflies are around, telling us that the world is very beautiful and colorful...telling us to take only that much what is required from nature around.
Due to less traffic and noise many beautiful birds are seen chirping around, forming different shapes and patterns, flying freely... teaching us to sing to the lovely tune of life freely.
Believe me just knowing the names of birds and observing them closely, connecting with them is totally a different experience altogether.
How clouds form different shapes, how clouds sway...teaching us to flow with the life joyfully
How trees dance to the breeze as if they are telling us...no matter what enjoy and keep dancing to the lovely tune of life
How beautiful and colorful the sky looks during sunset
How mesmerizing those 5 minutes before sunset are when the golden sun-rays are reflected in our balcony from the window from the building in front of our society
How sun sets daily to rise again stronger, brighter next morning and how important it is to have rest, take pause when needed, how important work-life balance is
How more hopeful, faithful it makes us feel towards the supreme power to see that even after the sun sets, moon comes smiling every evening along with his cute, little star buddies (including a brighter star who is her Aaba - her grandfather).
Shraavi enjoyed spending time with Nature so much that we decided to go one step ahead. We created a sitting area near our small garden.
Evenings spent here are really soothing and refreshing. We thought why not plant some veggies. So we helped Shraavi plant Coriander and Cherry tomatoes. She watered the plants daily learning to take responsibility of her plant babies. The joy on her face, seeing the little seedlings come out, further growing into small plants, is beyond words. She witnessed the life of a tree. She experienced how fresh garden coriander tastes compared to the one bought from market. Shraavi loves talking to plants, birds, moon, stars. She makes sure to water plants, keeps water for birds in summer. She now knows how nature loves and gives us unconditionally and how can we at least be grateful for the same.
Connecting with nature makes us calm, keeps us grounded and soothes our body, mind and soul.
Nature rejuvenates us and most importantly makes us one with the universe.
Nature is our best friend. What about you?
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