Category Archives: outdoors

Nudging: Have lunch outside

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Backstory: I have such good intentions, but then so often I’m “too busy”. This nudge is about shaking up the routine.

After I pulled this nudge this morning, I thought about my options. The obvious choice for me is to head to the backyard (I work from home even when we aren’t sheltering-in-place). Back in my corporate days, I would find a place to sit in a courtyard, near a fountain, perhaps. In a perfect world, of course, I’d find a pretty spot in a park or on the beach.

Speaking of the sheltering-in-place, my husband and I got creative when we wanted to get out. A few times we picked up sandwiches to go, found a spot with a view, and had a “picnic” in the car. This would fulfill this nudge too.

If none of the above work, at the very least, I can open a window.

Hope you can get out this week.

Nudged: Let something go

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Backstory: A thing? A relationship that has run its course? A limiting belief?

This is a deep nudge. It involves my deciding to fully release something*. Completely. No negotiating. No hanging on.

And trusting. For I believe that when I create space in my life by removing something that isn’t serving me, I open myself up to something better.

*You might add “over to God/Spirit/the Universe” here, if that is part of your faith practice.

What Happened: The inspiration for this nudge came from a note I discovered tucked in an old journal:

“It is Spirit’s responsibility, not mine, to lead me to my highest good. All I have to do is listen and believe.”

“All.” Like it’s that simple!

But…maybe it can be. For what this nudge is asking me to do is let go of my worries, my expectations, and live in the moment, and trust that what is coming is good.

I’ve had a lot to worry about lately. Haven’t we all? And dwelling on the possibly bad outcomes has not helped me one bit.

I thought about what I’ve learned about the Law of Attraction and made the choice this week to actively turn off my “stinkin’ thinkin'”. Instead, I focused on all that is good in my life right now. (It helped that we just did the gratitude journal nudge.)

I won’t claim to be completely worry-free, but this practice lifted my spirits.

And this afternoon I noticed that our lilac tree is again in full bloom. Despite my almost completely ignoring it the rest of the year, this fierce and sweet little tree comes back every spring and delights me with her abundance of beauty.

The view from my office window: Lilacs in bloom.

The Ah-Hahs: Evidence of faith, joy, and resilience is all around us. Sometimes I just need to ignore the noise and notice what I’ve been overlooking: like a beautiful tree that reminds me Abundance is Natural Order.

Nudging: Get to know one great female artist

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Backstory: I don’t recall what originally inspired this nudge. Maybe it had to do with wanting to look outside my comfort zone for creative inspiration. Now that I think about it, I recently encouraged a client, who was experiencing some burnout, to take a break from writing writing writing! He had fallen into a rut of forcing himself to churn out pages or a set word count, so I suggested he go to a museum and take in some visual art for a change. Or just get outside and take in some natural beauty. He reported back that he returned to his desk with renewed energy and ideas for his work. Huzzah!

So maybe this week I’ll wander a local museum and stop whenever I’m attracted to something. Or maybe I’ll check out some books about an artist or school of artists from the library.

I do need to acknowledge this nudge is not about revisiting my favorites (Monet, pretty much all the Impressionists) and focusing on female artists. As I think on this, I’m leaning toward getting to know a new-to-me visual artist, but for you it could be a musician, actor, or other entertainer. Or a poet, essayist, or novelist.

Have fun with this!

Nudging: Make a list of cities I want to visit, pick 1 to explore

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Backstory: Back in my single gal days, for years I dreamed about going to Italy. Every time the new Backroads‘ catalogue arrived in the mail, I ripped out the pages describing the walking tour of Tuscany and pinned it to my wall. One day I decided I had wasted too much time dreaming and was ready to do something to make it happen. Almost a full year in advance, I booked the tour and put down a sizeable deposit. Then every spare dollar went into a savings account so, by the time I boarded the plane, everything was covered.

This nudge is in part inspired by the success of that planning and adventuring. Today I can’t kid myself about swinging a big deposit (if you can, go for it!), but I can start visualizing my next trip and motivating myself to make it happen.

Once I’ve made my short list of cities, I might go to the library and pick up history and cook books. I might check out cultural music online. I might add a language app to my phone and start practicing the words and phrases I’ll need to be a respectful traveler (please…excuse me…thank you). Or maybe I’ll put together a list of movies set in that city and begin “seeing” myself there.

What I know for sure is I’ve been bitten by the travel bug and I’m starting to itch. I’m looking forward to exploring where I might go.

52+: “Every day is a great day.”

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It’s true that I created the 52Nudges as a way to push myself into new adventures and experiences. So it’s especially gratifying when I learn that someone else has had success with one of the nudges.

I recently received a blog post from McClairie Group, in which executive coach Charmaine McClairie wrote:

After a holiday visit to Paris, my favorite of all cities, I am renewed and refreshed, and I’ve made an important decision. I’ve decided that every day in 2020 is a great day. Any day that I’m on this side of the earth? Yes, it’s a great day.

It’s a decision prompted by Kathleen Guthrie Woods and her 52Nudges, a wonderful initiative that encourages us to challenge ourselves weekly.

This Nudge in particular resonated with me – a Nudge to reserve time to just be. Be still, be quiet and do nothing. It reminded me of the hours and hours I spent in Rodin’s Garden when I lived in Paris earlier in my career. I would stop there on my way home from work, sit on one of the many park benches and soak in this incredible city. The art. The culture. The people. To sit and just be in one of the most beautiful spots in the world was truly transformational for me.

Thank you, Kathleen, for reminding me of the importance of sitting quietly and doing nothing – even in Paris.

Charmaine McClairie enjoying Rodin’s Garden in Paris.

I have a huge smile on my face as I read this, and I am inspired to greet each new day as a great day. Thank you, Charmaine!

P.S. If you’re ready to nudge your career to the next level (or up several levels), check out McClairie Group’s website for insights, solutions, and upcoming events.

Nudged: Go to the beach

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Backstory: When I was compiling The List for nudges, I thought about skills I want to learn, activities I loved doing as a kid and might enjoy doing again, and all sorts of things that have fed my soul in the past and might still work their magic on me today. This week’s nudge falls into that last category.

I grew up on the beaches of Southern California. I body-surfed, explored tide pools, cooked meals over fire pits, and sometimes just sat and watched and listened. The beach is where I went when I needed to clear my head, rest my body (or sometimes reboot it with a strenuous workout), and refuel my spirit.

I’ve now lived in Northern California for over a decade and I have yet to walk on the beach closest to my home. It’s cold here! It’s windy! It’s not the same!

Lately I’ve felt a longing to get back to the beach. I’m so glad I pulled this nudge this week. It’s time.

What Happened: The moment I stepped off the pavement, I wanted to take off my shoes and scrunch my toes in the sand. Oh, how I have missed that sensation! Sadly, it was too dang cold! I should mention that I was dressed in two layers of thermal shirts, a down parka, scarf, and gloves. In part to stay warm, I kept moving. And I walked and walked, looked and listened, and took in “my” beach for 90 minutes.

It was wonderful.

Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California

I breathed more deeply than I have in ages, and noticed when I got home that my sinuses were clear after fighting a tenacious head cold for weeks. I noticed my mind was quiet and focused, my body relaxed, my legs fatigued, but in a satisfying way. I felt like I’d had a complete re-set.

The Ah-Hahs: Is it the briny air? The ions? The crunch of the sand under my feet? The “white” noise of the surf that works its magic on me? Probably all of the above in concert.

Sure, I miss the beaches of my youth, but I’m learning to appreciate the beauty of the beach in my present.

My inaugural walk happened over a lunch break. Totally doable, especially because that beach is just two miles from home. The next morning, I felt a longing to return, but it had to wait due to conference calls and other obligations. But tomorrow, Saturday, Louie the dog and I have a date to go to the nearby dog-friendly beach. I look forward to running around with him in the sand and surf, both of us barefoot. I’ll pack some warm socks for after. 🙂

Nudging: Go to the beach

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Backstory: When I was compiling The List for nudges, I thought about skills I want to learn, activities I loved doing as a kid and might enjoy doing again, and all sorts of things that have fed my soul in the past and might still work their magic on me today. This week’s nudge falls into that last category.

I grew up on the beaches of Southern California. I body-surfed, explored tide pools, cooked meals over fire pits, and sometimes just sat and watched and listened. The beach is where I went when I needed to clear my head, rest my body (or sometimes reboot it with a strenuous workout), and refuel my spirit.

I’ve now lived in Northern California for over a decade and I have yet to walk on the beach closest to my home. It’s cold here! It’s windy! It’s not the same!

Lately I’ve felt a longing to get back to the beach. I’m so glad I pulled this nudge this week. It’s time.

Nudged: Go to a park, do nothing for 30 minutes

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Backstory: This is a repeat of a successful Nudge I did in round one, and I’m looking forward to doing it again. The intention is to go to a park and not exercise, not fill the silence with conversation, to resist the urge to do anything.

Here’s the original post to inspire you–and me. 🙂

What Happened: I should have taken a pass on this one. It was much too cold this week to sit still and do nothing, so I fudged: I walked through a park while out running errands.

However, this wasn’t a total loss. After my errands were done, I found I had some free time, so I wandered. I stepped into some shops I hadn’t ever explored. I re-visted a gift shop that once was my go-to place for special hostess and birthday gifts–such pretty things. In an antiques shop, I discovered treasures, including crystal wine glasses, “hidden” among some items that could be really fun gag gifts, i.e., a life-size cutout of Elvis.

“I’m all shook up…Mm mm oh, oh, yeah, yeah!”

I wasn’t shopping for anything specific, I didn’t have an agenda. I slowed my walk and my breathing. I took in my surroundings and allowed myself time to be delighted.

The Ah-Hahs: Although I didn’t complete this Nudge as originally intended, just having the seed planted was enough to get me to stop the treadmill of my mind and open myself up to an alternate possibility. I cleared my head and had some fun. Ultimate mission accomplished.

 

Nudged: Book 4 hikes/walks with 4 different friends

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Backstory: What a great way to kick off the new year! Exercise, catch up with friends, get outside.

Although as I type this, I imagine Nudgers in other parts of the world looking out their windows and thinking, “Oh, HELL no!” (Hello, Canadians!)

Maybe this isn’t the right season for you to be out walking, so, as always, figure out which part of this nudge speaks to you and go forth. Maybe this is the week you schedule that free session with the trainer at your gym. Maybe this is the week you schedule coffee and catch-up dates with four old friends. Maybe you commit to four “dates” over the next month with your treadmill or stationary bike. Make it your own.

What Happened: “Piece of cake,” I thought when I first pulled this nudge. “A few emails and text messages, and done!”

Then I read the fine print. This doesn’t ask me to “invite” four friends to go on walks with me, it asks me to “book” those outings.

It took a little more effort and time than anticipated, but I got one friend to join me for an early morning walk during the week, another is scheduled for tomorrow morning (weather permitting), and a third is scheduled for next week. One is penciled in for late in the month, and another has yet to respond to my email. I hope to issue more invitations–and book those dates–soon.

The walk that happened was lovely. Not too strenuous, which allowed for some good conversation. It also allowed us time to take in the scenery:

The deep blue sky. The green trees. Gorgeous!

As a bonus, I got “lost” on my way to our meeting point, which allowed me to marvel over the beauty of Golden Gate Park. Every time I go, it takes my breath away.

The Ah-Hahs: I feel calm this afternoon. Centered. Nothing else I did this week could contribute to that (rather, I should be feeling the opposite). I think it’s the combination of the three elements; not just exercising, not just meeting a friend, not just getting outside. All together.

We’re all so busy. And so, I find I must be intentional about making plans to make outings like this happen. It’s so worth the effort.

P.S. Looking for more inspiration and motivation? Check out Walking the World’s Most Exceptional Trails by Eloise Napier and Great Hiking Trails Around the World by Karen Berger.

Nudging: Book 4 hikes/walks with 4 different friends

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Backstory: What a great way to kick off the new year! Exercise, catch up with friends, get outside.

Although as I type this, I imagine Nudgers in other parts of the world looking out their windows and thinking, “Oh, HELL no!” (Hello, Canadians!)

Maybe this isn’t the right season for you to be out walking, so, as always, figure out which part of this nudge speaks to you and go forth. Maybe this is the week you schedule that free session with the trainer at your gym. Maybe this is the week you schedule coffee and catch-up dates with four old friends. Maybe you commit to four “dates” over the next month with your treadmill or stationary bike. Make it your own.