Momentos of Nature; The Pebble Bottle

Exercising in nature is my favorite form of self-care. I try to get outside even when the weather isn’t ideal because being in nature energizes me. Walking or running, I pay attention to my surroundings because that is the whole point of being outside. I almost always stop and photograph a scene that catches my eye. I photograph almost anything, from flowering bushes, weird-looking mushrooms, turtles, deer, light shining through a canopy of trees, rivers and streams, and moss. 

I also play a game when I’m out running or walking. I’ll look for objects on the ground that seem to call to me. If I’m running, I sometimes stop immediately to check out an item that catches my eye. Other times, I’ll note where the thing is and see if I can find it on my way back. Sometimes I do! When walking, I’ll stop more often when something catches my eye because that is the point of the walk: to pay close attention to my surroundings. 

When I stop and pick up whatever I find, I feel its energy, look at it more closely, and see how its weight feels in my hand. If I feel connected, I’ll place it in my pocket or backpack and bring it home. If I don’t, I’ll return it where I found it. These items are usually stones, rocks, pebbles, sea glass, shells, and sometimes crystals like rose quartz. 

When I decide to keep the item, I bring it home and drop it into my Pebble Bottle on my windowsill. I fill the bottle with salt water, which helps the true colors of the stones show themselves. Since we said goodbye to our dog Bryce, the Pebble Bottle means even more to me. Most of the items in that bottle were collected while walking with Bryce, making my connection to them even more meaningful.

I love this part of my nature walks; it helps me be part of the trail or the beach because I let nature guide me.