Daydream Believer
How many of us were caught daydreaming in class when we should have been concentrating on what the teacher was saying? The abrupt reprimand of, stop daydreaming and pay attention! a constant refrain throughout our school years? Consequently, somewhere along the way we lost the ability to zone out, believing that we should be focussed at all times.
Yet research has shown that staring into space can calm the mind. A period of mental disengagement helps the brain reset and is said to reduce stress and improve focus later on. It can even lead to creative breakthroughs - light bulb moments - by activating insight-generating brain networks.
But it’s the scientific conclusion that a spot of mental wandering can help put your own problems into perspective by fostering a sense of connection to something larger, that resonates most with me.
Last autumn we took a break in the Wye Valley. After a hectic summer, a few days away, wide open spaces and good clean air was just the ticket. So a visit to the world-renowned beauty spot, Symonds Yat Rock, a truly iconic viewpoint offering breath-taking panoramic views of the River Wye and the surrounding landscape, was a must.
Walking up to the edge of that tor and taking in the panoramic view before me for the first time, was one of those moments that will stay with me always. A quiet sense of calm spread through me as I gazed at the timeless utopia before me. I was speechless with wonder. I couldn’t tear myself away. All the beautiful gardens and Capability Brown landscapes, as lovely as they are, couldn’t hold a candle to the natural landscape before me.
This summer we visited the gardens of Lincolnshire with our Horticultural Society. One such garden was Marigold Cottage in Sutton-on-Sea. In addition to this delightfully quirky cottage garden, the charming owners had a secret surprise for us. Out of their back gate, across a quiet road, then up a steep bank less than 50m from their house and you are on the beach. An uninterrupted view of the turquoise North Sea, big powder blue sky, undulating white sand and swaying grasses, not a single person to the left or the right of you as far as the eye could see. Took my breath away, my lips forming a silent O, conversation hushed. Big world, small me. Time and mind stilled.
Love, Caroline