Embracing Women and Nature: Enduring Strength and Renewal
This Women’s History Month has continued to be a great celebration of women who have made an impact on me. One I hold dear is Mother Nature. In her beauty, she has proven time and time again to be undefeated.
Just today, as I sifted through my notes app which pulls double duty as my journal, I found myself reflecting on the legacy of my beloved grandmother.
In tribute, I paired my words with an image of the serene Okutama mountains—a slice of tranquility in the bustling Tokyo suburbs.
The journey to an open-air Onsen in the woods was transformative. As the train emerged from a long stretch on a tree-lined route, I gasped at the sight in this photo momentarily suspending the inner that I had going on at the time.
In those moments, unexpected kindness touched my heart. From a stranger’s gentle assistance at a Seoul spa, helping me cover the tattoos on my back, to the elderly woman who, without a shared language, conveyed a world of warmth. Her stature mirrored that of my grandmother—petite and endearing. Her gaze, intense yet comforting, seemed to channel the very essence of my grandmother’s spirit.
I chuckled inwardly, recalling how my grandmother’s stare could command a room. I’d tell her “Please, Grandmom, stop staring at them OMG!” Yet there I was, enveloped in a similar gaze, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude. A nearby younger woman paused washing her hands to translate the older lady’s admiration for my hair and her heartfelt affection.
As quickly as she appeared, the woman vanished into the crowd, leaving me with a memory etched in gratitude but not in photographs. I’ll just hold her dear in my heart. I took it as a sign that both my Mom and Grandmom knew what I needed and sent the lady in as a sub.
Each time I revisit this beautiful image of the mountains, the complexities of life fade into the background, replaced by the tranquility that only Mother Nature could bring.
We find solace while nature bathing. In her resilience, we find strength. So even though outside of my normal weekend, self-care post, be sure to get outside and take in the surroundings of beautiful leaves, flowers, clouds, and water elements. Mother Nature’s healing powers are indeed undefeated—a legacy of love and enduring renewal. 💕🍃
