Walking In To Peace.

Empowerment lies not in reaction but in our response to things. The wild wisdom of woodland wellbeing.

Dear Hearts

How has your week been? I went for a walk out into peace and quiet and spaciousness out in the woods. Being AuDHD sometimes my feelings can get into a log jam, Feelings can feel big and it feel like they have no space to go. My way of self-regulating is to take a walk in the woods. Of course, you don’t have to have a neurodivergent brain like mine to take time out. Being outside in our natural world is proven to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Sometimes autistic people can look like there is not much going on. This is because some of us can become very good at masking. Some of us become very shutdown due to sensory overload, or because of social pressures. These factors had a very significant impact on my sense of self when I was younger. It is also true to say that I became very judgemental and intolerant of my own needs, or ‘flaws’ as I saw them. This is how social conditioning can impact all of us, not just those with a neurodivergent brain. No wonder then that we have a mental health epidemic

Mental health, as many of you know if you’ve been walking a while with me, is a passion of mine. It also ties in with my passion for social justice because happy people make the world a better place. I care about others. I have also learned to care for myself. My self-care involves time out in the woods. My self-care involves knowing that it is not just about being in the woods as ‘time out’, but also being aware of time in the woods being an essential part of my existence. Taking time to do things that are good for us should not be the exception, but be an intrinsic part of our lives. Easier said than done, I know, but knowledge is power

Let me just say that again for you. Self-care is an essential and intrinsic part of your existence. If you needed that affirmation today, well, there it is. We all need these little reminders. We need them especially when the world is not as we would wish it to be, when others are not as we would wish them to be, when life is not as we would wish it to be.

I cannot do anything about wars between countries or between people for example. I cannot do anything about those who choose to start them, no matter how unjust. I cannot do anything about getting caught up in them either, no matter how much I may wish it were otherwise. But I can choose to work for, and find, peace within myself. That, I have come to realise, is it means to become empowered. Of course, in stressful moments it’s easy and understandable to become reactive. We all do, we’re not Buddha! So, this is my walk in the woods.

Empowerment lies not in reaction but in our response to things.

We can all choose where to place our attention. I choose to place my attention not on the noise of social media, but out in the real world of root and branch. I realise as I say this that I am in a place of privilege, not being subjected to the bombs, tanks and guns that so many shivering under canvas are living in real fear of. Knowing this rather puts things into perspective. Being able to put things into a wider perspective really helps me to deal with that old lizard brain flight or fight response. As someone who has suffered a lot with anxiety and overwhelm, this is an opportunity for a moment of space and gratitude. Anxiety and overwhelm have significant impact on the lives of autistic people. I have to consciously work at self-regulation. So, this is my moment of conscious choice.

Breathe. Breathe deeply my friends. Don’t seek conflict where there need be none. In a world where people seem so very determined to start wars, no matter how unjust, walking into the peace of ourselves is a very good place to start

This is my walk in the woods and I am choosing to share it with you.

Wild wishes and blessings as always

Amanda Claire x

PS: Looking for gifts? How about an organic teeshirt or tree planting certificate? Volunteer run Ancient and Sacred Trees has these and more all protecting and planting trees here www.ancientandsacredtrees.org

If you live in the UK you could support my small business too www.jackinthegreen.org