Reconnecting with Nature: A Lesson Learned on My Walks

After a break, I’ve resumed my daily nature walks this past week. Initially, I curated a playlist, thinking music would enhance the experience. Surprisingly, it did the opposite. The music, rather than enriching, mediated my engagement with the environment, leaving me disconnected from the natural world around me.

In retrospect, I’m not sure what prompted me to think I needed anything beyond the natural soundscape. Perhaps it was an attempt to avoid a deeper, more introspective encounter with nature, fearing it might reveal truths I wasn’t ready to face. It might have been simply a way to distract myself.

Many enjoy their walks accompanied by tunes or podcasts, and while I respect their choices, I’ve realized I need to hear what nature subtly imparts into my life—something that music, however beautiful, tends to mask.

The lesson came to me after just two days. On the second day, despite my initial experience, I again opted for earbuds. When this attempt also felt lacking, I acknowledged that what I truly craved was the unadorned act of walking. Since that realization, I’ve put aside my earbuds for more appropriate settings, like when listening to binaural beats or meditative tracks.

Being fully present means avoiding distractions that prevent true engagement. While I might someday explore music on my walks again, it will be a deliberate choice. For now, I’m content to savor the natural symphony of songbirds, singing frogs, and the whisper of wind through the leaves.