A few weeks back, I took the weekend off from my therapy practice in Los Alamitos and went on a trip to Yosemite National Park. While I was there, I got to thinking about my last post on mindfulness. As I mentioned then, using mindfulness during a vacation or even an afternoon excursion can help you fully soak in the feelings of the present moment. Although I’m a therapist by trade, I am also a human by nature with normal feelings, emotions, and–most critically, normal modern attachment to my digital devices. All that is to say, I find it very difficult sometimes to go somewhere and unplug.
At the beginning of my trip, I found it very difficult to disconnect from the outside world. First of all, I usually make it a habit of staying connected to my work by answering calls and emails in a timely manner; and second of all, I just like my phone, my media, and being able to be in connection with friends and family at all times. At the same time, I also try to practice what I preach, and so I made it my intention during this trip to set aside my phone for most of the day, everyday (except for the occasional picture) and soak in the therapeutic feeling of nature.
The good news was that cell reception was very poor in most of the park. Forced to disconnect, I found myself fully immersing my senses in the awe of nature. Without my phone to distract me, I naturally fell into a grounding practice:
- Sight: I spent hours looking up at the majestic mountains and cliffs, and staring deep into the valley below.
- Smell: I actually noticed and took in the distinct scents of the greenery and wildlife around me.
- Touch: I felt the dirt, grass, and branches beneath my feet, and grounded myself against the rocks and trees with my hands.
- Sound: I listened to the calls of different bird species flying above.
Through this full immersion of my senses, I felt at one with myself, with nature, and with my spirit.
As I headed back home, I realized that for most of my trip, I barely even thought about plugging back into the world during my stay. On top of that, for once I didn’t find myself counting down the hours until I had to go back to the real world. I let myself fully be in the present moment. It was then that I decided to make a commitment to unplug more frequently.
I admit that I’m in a privileged position to be able to take a trip like this once in a while. You don’t need a national park to practice mindfulness; it can be as simple as visiting a local green space. Whether you are walking near my practice in Los Alamitos, or visiting parks and beaches in Cerritos, Long Beach, or Seal Beach, the most important thing is to give yourself a few minutes of peace. The most important thing is to take a little time out of your day or week and give yourself the gift of mindfulness.
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Nature is a beautiful tool for finding peace, but sometimes we need more structured support to navigate the heavier seasons of life. Whether you are managing depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, or chronic stress, you don’t have to walk through it alone. I provide specialized, in-person therapy for clients in Orange County and the surrounding areas. If you are ready to find your footing, reach out today to connect.