By Megan-Mack Nicholson
Guest columnist
As I sit at my computer, waiting for inspiration for what I’m going to write, I find that I keep coming back to the knee-jerk reaction of writing about “gratitude” and all the things we can be grateful for in nature . I mean, let’s be honest, I’d say (as a fair guess) 8 out of 10 people say this time of year is their “favorite.” The problem with writing about gratitude is that I remember it was exactly this time last year that my column was due and I wrote about it, because, DUH, it’s easy to find billions of reasons!
As I pace back and forth now, it hits me, I have fallen into the cycle of comfortable repetition. The Comfortable Repetition Cycle (CCR), which is by no means a real scientific thing, was invented by a friend and I while watching a high school football game. Somehow we joked about getting older and challenging ourselves to keep things fresh. We vowed to help each other watch out for tendencies toward having to adopt a certain way of doing things or falling into comfort patterns that prevent us from continuing to explore this beautiful gift called life.
For me, this conversation was a reminder of my own patterns and my commitment to challenging myself to step outside of my comfort zone. I want to keep things fresh and even a little intimidating. As a teacher, I don’t want to teach the same things over and over again, so I find ways to explore with my students, learn together, and hopefully grow together. Those who know me well know that I often like to have themed months. This could mean a month dedicated to reading, creative work, sobriety, travel, work, or exercise. Last November, I opted for “New Love November,” so when this conversation came up, I quickly told my friend about my commitment to New Love November.
Where does this month’s dedication come from? Well, I recently bought a motorcycle and must have forgotten what it was like to fall in love again for the first time. I mean, how many people feel like they’re falling in love for the first time, all over again? Either way, this newness in my life helped me tap into something primal within myself. Maybe explore the world on horseback? Who knows, but it certainly made me realize that a whole new way of moving and seeing the world was possible and, oh my God, it felt good. New Love November was dedicated to opening me up to exactly that. How can I see, move and thus appreciate this life in a way that I have not yet allowed myself to see?
So here I am, trying to find a topic for November that doesn’t fit my usual “gratitude.” Instead, I want to ask you, when was the last time you walked in nature and actively searched for something new to enjoy? When was the last time you approached a friend or family member with the intention of discovering something new to love about them? This month, I want to throw myself into whatever interests me, with a new outlook and a new heart. As I walk through the woods every day, can I find a path of appreciation that I have never walked before? Can I ask my heart to guide me to love not only what feels safe and familiar, but also what requires more compassion and curiosity?
I’m pretty sure New Love November is here to stay in my world. Does anyone want to join us?
Megan-Mack Nicholson is Director of Education at The Hyde School, Founder of Holon Healing, ANFT Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, YTT Yoga Teacher, Registered Maine Guide, and Reiki Master Practitioner Shaman. You can reach her at [email protected] Or HolonhealingME.com
