Observing Pine Trees

Painting pine trees is my new watercolor obsession. Everywhere I go, I see pine trees everywhere but here's the thing, each pine tree I observe is different from the last. No pine tree is the same the one before it.

I hope I'm making sense.

Anyways so it got me thinking. 

As a simple mindfulness practice, I recommend observing pine trees.

When you are walking, take a moment to settle into your body. Notice any part of your body that is tense and take a nice inhale in and a long exhale out, focusing on releasing any tension you might be holding in your shoulders or any part of your body that feels tense.

Do this for a few breaths while walking. Just be present. If a thought comes and distracts you, it's all good. Your meant to think. Acknowledge it and simply come back to your breath.

OK, so once you feel more settled while walking, start to notice the landscape around you. Notice the sky - what color is it today? Is it gray and moody or can you see patches of blue?

Do you notice any smells? The freshness of the air?

And now notice the pine trees! Notice each pine tree that you encounter. What do you notice? Does each one you see seem different in shape, height and color from the last?

Take a moment to just notice all the pine trees you see and their nuances.

Continue this practice for however long.

And once you are done, take a big big inhale and long exhale out through the mouth.

That's it! That's the practice. You can do this for 3 minutes or longer but do this as a means to just reconnect yourself to the landscape around you.