Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about stillness. Not just quiet or silence, but presence. That kind of stillness where you suddenly realize you're not thinking about the next thing on your to-do list, or checking your phone, or rushing anywhere at all.
It hit me on one of my walks to class. I wasn’t out on a hike or doing anything adventurous, just going through my regular commute. No headphones, no rush. I stopped for a moment and watched how the sunlight moved through the trees, how the shadows shifted across the sidewalk. That’s it. But for some reason, it felt like the most peaceful moment I’d had in weeks.
Stillness helps me notice the small things. The wind in the trees. A new leaf growing. The state of the sky. And I think when we pay attention to those things, we reconnect not just with nature, but with ourselves.
One simple habit I’ve started is this: look at a tree. I know it sounds basic, but when was the last time you actually looked at one? Trees are all around us, but most of us haven’t really seen one in a while. I do this every day on my walk to class. Even if it’s a quick commute, I try to notice something new, a leaf that’s changed color, the bark’s texture, the way branches move in the breeze.
Here in the U.S., our culture is built around cars. Most of us go from our front door to our car, and from our car to work or school. That adds up to maybe 10 or 15 minutes outside total in a day. And while that might not feel like the “great outdoors,” it still counts. That time matters. And learning to be present in it, even just during a short walk, can do something really good for your mind.
You don’t necessarily need a mountaintop or a camping trip to reconnect. You just need to pause. Pay attention. And maybe, look at a tree.
Until next time,
Carlos