Nature and Connection to the Present Moment
My name is Emily and I am in my final year of Occupational Therapy at The University of Toronto.
Me at my aunt and uncle’s farm. This was my favourite place to be as a child, surrounded by nature and so many different farm animals.
I am currently completing a placement with Davis Occupational Therapy and could not be more excited to have been matched with this community of nature OT’s. Throughout this placement I will be developing a nature-based mindfulness program for adults with ADHD, an opportunity that is close to my heart. I personally have experienced the restorative and holistic health promoting effects of nature and mindfulness, nature from a young age and mindfulness throughout my post-secondary education.
As a child, I loved the outdoors and always felt a special connection to animals. Growing up in North York I frequently visited the ravines and trails where I quickly developed a fascination with plant species and small critters. Although I did not know it at the time, these experiences in nature as a child were building the foundation of a mindfulness practice that I would draw on later in life.
Me enjoying a walk in Toronto and taking a moment to be mindful.
As a student, particularly as a student during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to become disconnected from nature, as well as from the present moment. In this time, I have gone back to my roots and rediscovered my love for nature. Nature has become an essential part of my busy schedule taking the form of tiny everyday moments walking outside on my lunch break, stopping to feel the bark on a tree, or watching the birds from my window. I feel so fortunate that on my longer breaks I have been able to explore the backcountry of Algonquin park where my ability to connect with nature and the current moment have brought peace to my mind and body. These small and large experiences ground me and I am intensely aware of how they generalize to my everyday life, helping me stay mindful and present throughout my studies. In developing the nature-based mindfulness program I am excited to be able to explore the substantial research on these topics and develop an evidence based program for Davis Occupational Therapy, which I hope will touch the lives of adults with ADHD so that they may thrive.