The sound of the ocean is captivating. The songs of the birds, enchanting. The feel of the earth beneath our feet cannot be met by the man-made grounds. Indeed, our human creations are small in the scope of this great earth. As a surfer, I have an opportunity to intimately connect with the natural world. To ride waves, we must immerse ourselves in the vast sea, we must become a part of its rhythm in order to stay alive, and we must learn to trust ourselves to speak the language of the earth. This adaptation to the earth and its cycles develops a respect for our environment, whether we consciously acknowledge it or not.

For those of us involved in outdoor lifestyles, we engage in activities purely enabled by the earth. Sooner or later, we all arrive to a place of appreciation for what our natural world provides. Rivers, snow, mountains to climb on, trails to ride, oceans to swim, one only needs to open their conscious eye to feel a deep sense of adoration for the Earth’s extensive playgrounds.

It is this adoration, ignites appreciation which in turn leads to action to be caretakers, so that our future grandchildren can continue playing in clean rivers, have beaches to make sandcastles, and clean water to drink.

We all know by now that our current world systems are destructive to the earth, and are disrupting the natural flow. Sooner or later, things will have to change, or none of us will be here to watch the sunsets or witness the waterfalls. It’s our duty, the participants in the outdoor world, to bind together to create change. Awareness is vital and passion is key. It’s time to turn passion into action.

In developing a greater understanding and respect for our earth, here are 5 ways that I love to connect with Momma Nature:

Surfing

When I enter the ocean each time, I put my hands in the water and thank the ocean for allowing me to become one with it. I often say a prayer of gratitude for keeping me safe and for the lessons I will learn from the session.

Walking Barefoot

To me, there’s no better way to ‘feel a place’ than to walk on its raw ground with my bare feet. When we do, we receive Negative Ions from the earth, which are vital to human health. This is our natural battery charger and we just have to utilize it.

Sand Therapy

Roll around in the sand and let it cover you from head to toe. I love the practice of feeling the particles of the earth all over my body. Each beach has different sand, yet unanimously the same powerful energy. With gratitude, I treat the sand covering my body as medicine, and I always feel refreshed after rinsing off the Sand Therapy.

Rocks and Crystal Collections

I always carry with me a small bag of stones and crystals that I have been given and collected. I feel a sense of grounding and protection through these stones. If I ever feel confused, disrupted, or out-of-tune, I hold my crystals in my hands and allow their energy to re-balance me.

Touching trees

Anywhere we go, we’ll sooner or later find a tree. The Native Americans call them “The Standing People” and that has always resonated with me. Trees carry stories, they give us oxygen, they utilize our natural world to live, and provide us life. I love to touch trees wherever I am, and say a brief statement of gratitude. With a deep breath in, I cant help but feel a sense of presence and appreciation for all that is when I’m standing at the base of a tree.

- Leah Dawson

This Friday, April 22, Keep A Breast will be closed to celebrate Earth Day. Join us and#OptOutside!

Learn more about Leah in her stress less video for Non Toxic Revolution!

(Top photo by Maria Fernanda, Middle photo by Mauro Lado)