A roam through the woodlands is appealing because it's the perfect opportunity to connect with nature, other nature lovers, and random things that I see along the way.
I'm always open to stopping and chatting with strangers, as congeniality puts others at ease, and helps to give others feelings of acceptance. A few days ago the rain disappeared and left a bright sunny day, which illuminated some stunningly beautiful autumnal hues, which brought smiles to all the faces that I encountered.
This woodland lies within a residential area of the town of Newton Abbot, a not-so-cosmopolitan one in the UK, however, I've encountered warm people who appreciate their proximity to this vast area of woodlands.
My conversations with people are a constant reminder of just how universal we all are. For instance, a family of four approached who seemed friendly enough and I got the curious question, "Where are you from," which I sanction openly because as much as I consider myself a global citizen, I'm proud of my roots, history, and culture, for its strong identity. What I do find interesting though is that there's always a connection somewhere that people try to make or can relate to. It so happened that they thought I was Filipino because they have two Filipino in-laws from Davao, and they were surprised to know that I lived in Cebu for a few years. They went on to recommend a nearby meadow, where they said it was a little posh with posh people. That was when I asked, "Do you mean more posh than you?" which evoked laughter.
I suppose that it's human nature to want to place the sphere of things or people who spark an interest, right? Yet, at the same time, this question often leads me to thoughts on my life and makes me reflect on things such as friends and acquaintances, a lifestyle and culture that I have progressed from, and I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been, had I known the things that I do now.
My three most heartfelt pieces of advice that I'd have given my younger self are...
I'd explore myself to discover what brings me joy and prioritise making time to seize moments to do the things that I enjoy.
Time is fleeting and we are expected to earn a living by seeking employment, further education, or self-employment, but there's never an emphasis on happiness, knowing what makes us happy, or doing the things that make us happy. Throughout the years of exploring the world and reaching mid-life age, I've found the importance of having a focus; Or just knowing my interests and developing an independent mindset for cultivating my happiness. Having a purpose, a hobby, a focus or a skill that we can occupy ourselves, with this helps to keep our minds and thoughts alert.
I'd focus on loving myself by accepting flaws, and realising the power of individualism, knowing that there's no need to try to change me.
This might seem like a trivial question, but
Do you like yourself?
Many people never seem to ask themselves that question, and not knowing can often lead to recurring negative self-talk, because we are inside our heads, and the mind is what dictates our ability to love ourselves and to feel love in return. Analysing these feelings can help us to identify areas of insecurities and shame that we sometimes unconsciously feel. Knowing these things can help us to become more driven for the right reasons, which helps us to achieve goals, grow and feel a true sense of accomplishment without relying on the approval of others, and understand the power of detachment and letting go of things that have negative effects on feelings of self-worth. It's wonderful to experience acceptance by being yourself, instead of living your life as a character, just to fit in.
I find light by being in the present and connecting with my inner self through things such as journaling and discovering ways of communicating with myself and others.
This has come to light more from what I gain from sharing my thoughts here. Blogging or journaling has allowed me to feel, explore my thoughts and get a better understanding of what influences and inspires me. It's a way to look back and see what we prioritise and see changes and grow in ways that we sometimes fail to acknowledge. Journaling is a great way to review memories and keep memories alive.
Overall, when I look back at my life, I'm astounded at how vivid memories of myself throughout the years are. There are not many regrets, but I believe that had I seen the value in these points that I've highlighted above, I see reasons for living more wittingly.
Thanks for stopping by, as always, and have a great week ahead with enlightening and inspirational thoughts:)
All photos were captured and edited by me.