Welcome …
… to our January 2024 newsletter and wishing all of our subscribers and readers a very happy and fulfilling year ahead. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to those who signed up to join us at the Longridge Does Christmas evening.
If you are not a subscriber to the newsletter as yet, can we invite you to do so and keep in touch with what we are doing and planning …
Winter
As we enter into the depths of winter with colder and shorter days, we might find ourselves with less energy and a lower mood. Much of nature is currently hibernating, conserving its resources before renewed growth in the spring but for most of us as human beings in the western world, it’s pretty much business as usual with work and other commitments that don’t change from one season to the next.
In this newsletter, we are going to focus on how we can resource ourselves over the winter period, in particular focusing on the ‘Power of Awe’. We are also sharing with you the details of our photo competition that we hope many of you will enjoy taking part in.
The Power of Awe
In recent years there has been a growing body of research suggesting the benefits of awe, making you happier, healthier, more humble and more connected to the environment and those around you. Defined by Psychologist Dacher Keltner in his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life awe is the “feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world.”
Keltner identifies 8 ways in which we can find awe: Nature Life’s beginning and endings Music Visual Designs Moral beauty (witnessing other people’s courage, kindness, overcoming exceptional challenges and virtue) Religious and spiritual awe Truths about life (epiphanies) Collective effervescence (e.g. the feeling of being in a large stadium watching a football match or favourite band or being part of a protest march)
Think about those times when your breath has been taken away or having that sense of being blown away by some extraordinary piece of music or phenomenon of nature. In the moment the feelings induced, such as goosebumps or dropped jaws, are in themselves remarkable but research is now suggesting that the benefits of these experiences extend further - improving happiness and health and even benefits such as generosity and critical thinking.
Experiencing Awe.
Understanding more about this magical power of awe can prompt us to more consciously take time out to experience it. Here are some ideas:
Take a slow mindful walk in nature, perhaps to somewhere new. Consciously engage all of the senses and notice what is catching your attention. What can you see, hear, taste, smell and touch? As you slow down what are you noticing that you haven’t noticed before? Sharing this experience with others can help you to waken your senses to things you might not previously have noticed.
Indulge in binge-watching a selection of nature films or series that are now available on our televisions. (And check out the brilliant Water Bear channel - an ‘interactive streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet. Enjoy award-winning documentaries, enlightening short films and impactful series’)
Read some winter poetry and share it with your loved ones. Here is a selection of wonderful poems as a starting point.
Try Drawing what you see in nature. It can be your personal art, you do not need to share it, and we are more likely to remember information we draw than a phone photograph which helps us maintain good memory capacity.
Take photographs - capturing what you see in nature can help us to look more closely and feel a sense of wonder at what is there. This leads us to announce our…
Winter Photography Competition
During the spring we are running a winter-into-spring photography competition. This is an opportunity to take time out in nature, wonder at what is around us and share your favourite shot with others. We are looking for awe and interesting images - it does not have to be photographic masterpiece.
How it works.
We have three age categories - under 11s, 11-18, and over 18s
Send in your favourite photo that sums up ‘Awe’ by emailing longridgeeg@gmail.com, sharing on our Facebook page or via our Whatsapp group (see below)
We will choose our favourite photos in each category. Winners will receive a small prize and their photo included in future newsletters.
Coming up…
Our Saturday Socials will continue on the 2nd Saturday of the month (Next is January 13th at Little Town Diary) and our Active Sundays on the last Sunday of the month (next will be 28th January 2024). Watch for details on our Facebook and WhatsApp groups . See you there.
Supporting LEG
For time and other reasons, we are aware that not all can join our activities, so we have made it easier to support us with a donation. Simply use the QR code below and you will be taken to our Stripe page where you can donate. All gratefully received, no matter how small.
Thank You.
Keeping in Touch
A reminder that you can …