Calming Waters

Calming Waters
            Pummeled by the news in recent times, “tumultuous times” or “overwhelming challenges” is the first theme that comes to mind week after week. Individually and collectively, people around the world have taken a battering on all fronts: emotionally, physically, environmentally, politically, and on the health front.
            The term “doom scrolling” was coined in recent years, an apt description for those of us who find ourselves clicking the news headlines just one more time to see if there’s something important happening on all the dark fronts we’re following.
            At this point, it’s not a matter of looking to find the bad news. Any random change of the channel or headline view seems to be overflowing with disheartening stories, even as we hope to find something bright and hopeful.
            Hope is the magic word here. We can’t give up on the belief in goodness in the world, of which there is plenty. It just doesn’t make the headlines like bad things do.
            Take a break from the news and soak up a beautiful view when you can. A view of a calm lake or pond, a favorite forest view, a distant horizon sunset, the flowers in your yard or along your street, all of these can give us a chance to slow down our spinning minds and just take a deep breath.
            If it’s not possible to be outdoors when world news anxiety and depression starts to sneak up, catch a calming view from nature photos in a book, online images, or nature videos. Viewing calming images can actually make your breathing slow and clear disturbing clutter from your mind.
This week’s Hike Notes are from the HikingAutism archives, Bon Tempe Lake Loop. I find a sense of calm at all the lakes in the Marin Watershed, but Bon Tempe Lake is a stunner from all angles.
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This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 10): Bon Tempe Lake Loop
 
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