{"id":3550,"date":"2014-02-12T14:53:47","date_gmt":"2014-02-12T20:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/?p=3550"},"modified":"2016-09-23T14:39:54","modified_gmt":"2016-09-23T19:39:54","slug":"staying-one-step-ahead-of-the-winter-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/?p=3550","title":{"rendered":"Staying One Step Ahead of the Winter Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3571\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/whiteOakLeaf-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/whiteOakLeaf-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/whiteOakLeaf-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/whiteOakLeaf.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Have you been letting a negative attitude dominate your emotions this winter? It is easy to understand how that could happen with the sub-zero temperatures we have been experiencing; the lack of sunlight; the daily news; the destruction of our environment; etc.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Have I got an antidote for you!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3555\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/birch-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/birch-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/birch-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/birch-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/birch.jpg 1434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bundle up (I have 3 layers on most of my body and a full head scarf) !<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Go to your nearest wild area\/park at least once a day.<\/li>\n<li>Power walking is okay because it keeps you warm. But <b>\u201cintentional nature hikes\u201d <\/b>can be more satisfying because you become connected to nature. You are able to feel more alive, and for a time step out of those things that were dragging you down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What is an intentional nature hike? <\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3557\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/clouds1-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/clouds1-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/clouds1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/clouds1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The first 10 minutes,\u00a0 walk normally, let your body adjust to the temperature and<br \/>\nto\u00a0the place where you are walking.<\/li>\n<li>The remainder of the time, focus your thoughts are focused on the present.<\/li>\n<li>If you realize you are thinking about other things, stop walking for 10 seconds and re-focus.<\/li>\n<li>Let nature show its hidden beauty &#8211; look for patterns, shadows, and animal tracks in the snow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3560\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/LongShadows-267x300.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"267\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/LongShadows-267x300.jpg 267w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/LongShadows-912x1024.jpg 912w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/LongShadows.jpg 1431w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A variation on this activity is to find new things that you\u2019ve never seen. This morning I saw 7 new things (<em>I wonder if they were really \u201cnew\u201d or if my memory is really poor<\/em>). Regardless, this type of activity will keep you focused and fresh.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Listening is another form of connecting to nature. Listening to the sounds of the morning birds: the spring call of a cardinal or the &#8220;fee-bee&#8221; call of a chickadee. Also listening when there is no sound at all.\u00a0 Listening to the earth: an old oak; a glacial moraine; a grove of birch. You may not hear anything, but feel it on an energetic level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3554\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Basswood-300x256.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"300\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Basswood-300x256.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Basswood-1024x876.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Basswood.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Jed Krauss explains &#8220;listening to silence&#8221; in this way:\u00a0 &#8220;I feel the silence of nature more like a touch (like when a sound wave vibrates through my body). There are other times when I\u2019m just too addicted to my own thoughts to listen. For me, listening to the silence is the most rewarding type of meditation. More than just quieting my mind, this is opening my self up to be touched by Creation, in whatever way it chooses.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On your intentional nature hike, you may see or hear special things. Try to identify the following sights and sounds. Then check the key at the end of the post.<br \/>\n<strong>Sounds:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3567\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3567\" class=\" wp-image-3567\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/SquirrelDigging-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/SquirrelDigging-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/SquirrelDigging-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/SquirrelDigging.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3567\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>2.<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3550-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/cf.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/cf.mp3\">http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/cf.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>3.<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3550-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/c.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/c.mp3\">http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/c.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>4.<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3550-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/ROB.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/ROB.mp3\">http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/ROB.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>4a.<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3550-4\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/winterblues4-1.mp3?_=4\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/winterblues4-1.mp3\">http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/winterblues4-1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3569\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3569\" class=\" wp-image-3569 \" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/squirrelTracks-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"240\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/squirrelTracks-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/squirrelTracks-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/squirrelTracks.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3569\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">5.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3565\" style=\"width: 280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3565\" class=\" wp-image-3565 \" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Raccoon1-300x149.jpg\" alt=\"Raccoon1\" width=\"270\" height=\"134\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Raccoon1-300x149.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Raccoon1-1024x509.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3565\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">6.<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3570\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3570\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3570\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/WhiteFootedMouse-300x203.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/WhiteFootedMouse-300x203.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/WhiteFootedMouse-1024x692.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/WhiteFootedMouse.jpg 1692w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">8.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3564\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3564\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3564\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/rabbit-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"rabbit\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/rabbit-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/rabbit-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3564\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">7.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3558\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3558\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3558\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/deertracks-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/deertracks-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/deertracks-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/deertracks.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3558\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">9.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3559\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3559\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3559\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/fox-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"10.\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/fox-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/fox-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3559\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">10.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3563\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3563\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3563\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Owl6-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"11.\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Owl6-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Owl6-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Owl6.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3563\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">11.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3606\" style=\"width: 458px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3606\" class=\" wp-image-3606\" src=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SunDog-764x1024.jpg\" alt=\"SunDog\" width=\"448\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SunDog-764x1024.jpg 764w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SunDog-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/SunDog.jpg 956w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-3606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">12.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5><strong>key<\/strong>: 1. Squirrel refrigerator 2. spring call of a nuthatch 3. spring call of chickadee<br \/>\n4. spring call of a cardinal 4a. Rustling of red oak leaves in the wind 5. squirrel tracks 6. raccoon tracks 7. rabbit tracks<br \/>\n8. mice tracks 9. deer tracks 10. fox tracks 11. Owl wing prints in the snow\u00a0 12. Sun dog<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you been letting a negative attitude dominate your emotions this winter? It is easy to understand how that could happen with the sub-zero temperatures we have been experiencing; the lack of sunlight; the daily news; the destruction of our &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/?p=3550\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,17,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-connecting-to-nature","category-nature-notes","category-winter"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3550"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6541,"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3550\/revisions\/6541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/oldnaturalist.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}