Hi Reader,
Winter and early spring is hiking season where I live in South Florida. It's not that summertime forays into the woods aren't possible-- it's just that the promise of temperatures in the mid to upper nineties coupled with one hundred percent humidity and the very real threat of thousands of mosquitoes sends most out of the woods and into the water.
This time of year, though, is magic. Wildflowers are blooming, their dainty petals dancing in the breeze. The welcome warmth of the sun filters through the slash pine leaves. The warblers and meadow larks sing their melodic tunes as they bob and weave through the aptly-named saw palmetto leaves.
I've spent the last few months exploring different areas of where I live. Some trails I'm beginning to know like the back of my hand. Returning to these places has given me a sense of belonging, recognizing the different oaks and how they've shed their leaves or grown their pollen clusters. Hearing the same red tailed hawk make its predatory call overhead before it perches on a withered stag of lighter knot.
Even in the new places, there is familiarity in the way the plants grow, the way they've thrived after prescribed burns, and the vibrancy of the green leaves. New trails can also lead to new experiences-- I counted three small alligators sunning themselves on the bank of one such trail before they slipped into the water. A uniquely Florida trail experience.
We have another few weeks of this weather before summer heats up in earnest, and there will be less time in the woods and more time in the water (or at the very least, be more judicious about not being in the woods in the heat of the day).
With the equinox tomorrow, Thursday 20 March, we're officially at that balance point between seasons. That bi-yearly moment where the scales of day and night are equal before they start to tip to one side. On the weather app I use, it shows a circle with inky black on one side and bright yellow on the other. After tomorrow, the yellow circle will begin to encroach into the night as the earth rotates away from winter (in the northern hemisphere) and towards summer.
This point of balance is always an invitation to look at our own lives, to see what feels in alignment, what needs to be shelved for another season, and what we would like to pull more of into our lives.
Lean into it.
Happy Spring!
Fair weather and following seas,
Kara
Looking Ahead
As always, there are few projects that I have cooking up on the side. Below is a list of courses that I'd love your input on.
What would you like to see in this space next?
What would you most like to learn about?
What speaks to you? (you can select more than one)
- Marine Science for the Rest of Us: Diving into the oceanic cycles, creatures, and how we are impacted by them (and vice versa).
- Advocacy: Why having a cause matters and the best methods for using your voice to create the change you wish to see in the world.
- ReWild: How to reclaim your connection with the natural world to create a vibrant, thriving life.
- Nail the interview: Walk into (and out of) a job interview poised and confident.
- Ocean Living Everyday: Series on how (and why) to live ocean friendly along with exact steps to take, and how to talk to reticent friends and family
- All About Sea Turtles: A three part course diving into the life of sea turtles.
Weekly roundup
In case you missed last week's episode, I dive into how sea turtles live their lives driven completely by seasons and rhythms-- and why it's vital for you to do the same.
Want to go deeper?
Back to Nature
Getting outside is vital to our health and the health of the planet. The cool part is, to reap the benefits, you only need a few minutes a day. This course is designed to be fun and easy to do-- and perhaps spark an adventure or two.
|
|
|
Steer Your Course
Release the shackles of uncertainty. Say goodbye to stuck spirals and the idea of "some day." Side effects of this program include confidence, clarity, and a sense of purpose.
|
|
|
