Goldenrod in Winter

Attending a presentation by Linda Thai this week, I was introduced to the idea that our relationship with nature can be a source of secure attachment. This is a new, and expansive idea to me. And the more I think of it, the more I think it makes sense to include nature in our attachments. Nature provides connection, it’s a thought I have on repeat in the last many years. This is part of the reason why I feel much better when I spend a lot of time in natural spaces. When there is real static in our human relationships, all of the many layers where it can be a challenge, we can ground ourselves and feel better with open and welcoming visits with the more than human world. We have trees to visit and lean against, we can interact and observe plants changing through the seasons, we can listen to birds chirp and flit about in the trees, we watch the water move in a stream, we feel the snow fall against our face, and of course we can greet animals. Simply sitting and being a part of these ecosystems restores balance, esteem, and it can help us feel more secure in who we are.