written by Amber Gates, UTCS Instructional Leader
Throughout August and September, the UTCS admin team has been working to create a rhythm and culture that we can expand upon as we add to our staff next fall. Part of that culture is to challenge ourselves to slow down and observe the world around us.
Margaritte suggested we do a sit spot challenge for the month of September to help us slow down and also to sharpen our nature observation skills.
We kept the parameters kind. Twenty minutes at least 3 times per week sitting, breathing, observing nature, and journaling if we felt so inclined.
I chose my front porch for my “spot” and I chose early mornings, or actually, my schedule chose early mornings for me. I would go outside, sometimes in my pajama bottoms, armed with a cup of coffee, a journal, and my Merlin bird app.
Some mornings, I would just listen to the birds and the squirrels, breathe deeply, and drink my coffee. Some mornings, I would aggressively try to capture the bird songs to identify what type of bird was hidden in the branches around me. Some mornings, I started journaling and found myself sitting there well longer than twenty minutes.
Spending time in nature has not really been part of my daily life. Like most adults I know, I got up, went to work, took care of kids, house, bills, groceries, cooking, cleaning, dogs….. I spent years of my life never taking the time or setting the intention to just sit and observe. I did not slow down, I merely crashed at the end of every long day and then rushed myself out of bed the next morning to do it all over again.
Since beginning this journey of learning about Waldorf and nature-based education, I’ve come to see great value in slowing down. I am able to take pleasure in quiet moments spent in nature. I have enjoyed being intentional about my time and how it is spent.
Most of the journaling I did during the September sit spot challenge is just brain dumping - several unattached words and phrases that do not make any sense when grouped together. However, I was inspired one Monday morning to write a poem which I would like to share.
Observations from my sit spot in September
Written by Amber Gates
Sit spot six-thirty-six surrounding self in sanctuary of sounds.
Bird calls - Wake up! Good morning! Time to find food!
Crickets sing themselves home at the end of a long night.
In my yard.
Wrens, Cardinals and Blue Jays busy themselves with the start of theirs.
I, with my coffee, listen. Observe. Wonder.
A robin takes its turn. Each species’ call has its spotlight moment today. Like me as I chirp to my son that it is time to wake up and get ready for school.
I do not hear the Mourning Doves. They must be out of town. My ears miss them. They sound so much like the summers of my childhood.
Maple in my line of sight. Full and green. Oak to the right, dropping its acorns like a light rain shower. Cypress behind me, producing baby pinecones that look like tiny turtle shells.
My empty cup reminds me of the time as a truck rolls into the cul-de-sac to gather the recycling. My dog perked an ear hoping the visitor would bring a treat or even a pat on the head, but before getting up to give a waggly-tailed greeting, he thought better of it and hid behind my chair.
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