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Happy Friday Reader,

I’ve been busy this week, refining my talk for the Green Living Festival tomorrow! As I've been working on it - it hit me hard that, while it’s technically about slowing down to take action in support of the Earth, it really applies to so much of what we are all experiencing.

Because the truth is, many of us are walking around wired and tired.

Pushing ourselves just a little too hard.

Often, tuning out signals from our bodies that we’re running on empty.

And, unfortunately, over time, that chronic stress adds up.

It wears us down, inflames the system, and often makes it harder to show up in life with clarity or care.

And here's the thing I keep coming back to: Your nervous system is part of the ecosystem.

When we care for our internal environment through rest, presence, and small daily rituals, we're more resourced to engage with the outer world in meaningful ways.

That’s why this week’s Nature Connection Invitation is a micro-practice for nervous system support.

Think of it as a reset button for your body and your day.

🌿 Nature Connection Invitation: Make It a Micro-Ritual

Sometimes the smallest routines create the biggest sense of calm. What if one tiny, daily pause could reset your whole nervous system? Ready to give it a try?

Choose one anchor point in your day, such as after lunch, while brushing your teeth, or before reaching for your phone. Let this be your cue. A tiny doorway into a different rhythm.

Step outside if you can, or open a window.

Pause. Let your senses arrive.

Feel the air on your skin, notice the light around you, take in the sounds of the world. Notice something that feels alive: leaves moving, birds calling, a weed pushing through the cracks.

Then turn your attention inward:

→ Where in my body do I feel grounded?

→ Where might I be holding tension?

→ Is there any sense of ease, even just a flicker?

There is no need to change anything. Just notice.

Let this be a simple daily ritual. A quiet tending to your inner and outer environment. A way to remind yourself that presence is always available, and nature is always willing to meet you there.

Try returning to this practice once a day for a week. See how it feels to build a rhythm of slowing down—just for a few minutes at a time.

🌿 Want to learn more about this with me?

If you’re local, I’d love to invite you to two special events happening at the Green Living Festival TOMORROW - Saturday, June 7 at Missouri Botanical Garden:

Nature’s Path to Green Living – Forest Bathing at the Green Living Festival

Saturday, June 7 - 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM – The Missouri Botanical Gardens
🎟️ $15 per participant - sponsored by the Earthways Center | Registration Required | Limited Spots

A deeply restorative experience in the Garden before the crowds arrive. Experience this practice on a deeper level in a guided session with me at the Botanical Garden. Learn More & Save your spot →

Community Talk – Slowing Down to Take Action – Green Living Festival

Saturday, June 7 - 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – The Missouri Botanical Gardens
🎟️ $Free - sponsored by the Earthways Center

This talk explores how mindful time in nature strengthens our relationship with the living world and not only helps us build more capacity to do more but also inspires more conscious, sustainable choices.

Learn More & Save your spot →

😮‍💨 Need a full exhale?

Then save your Saturday, June 14, and join me at The Nature Institute for a quiet, soul-filling walk far from the buzz of the city.

🌿 Stepping Into Summer: A Forest Bathing Walk
📍 Near Alton, IL | 9:30–11:30 AM

As summer unfolds, the forest is alive with energy—lush greenery, dappled sunlight, and the hum of life all around. This Guided Forest Bathing & Nature Therapy Walk invites you to step into the season with intention, embracing the warmth, vibrancy, and renewal that summer offers.

More details & registration here →

→ [View all June events here]

Whether you’re joining me at the Garden, stepping into summer with a slow walk, or simply taking three minutes to reconnect with your body today, I hope this season brings you a little more breath, a little more beauty, and a deeper sense of steadiness beneath it all.

In Peace & Presence,
Jess

Jess Thenhaus 🌿 Nature Based Wellness Coach | NBHWC, CHHC
Certified Forest & Nature Therapy Guide | ANFT

🫶Helping you cultivate presence, margin & intentionality in your life.

CONNECT WITH JESS →

Need a little nudge to pause and breathe this month? Grab my free June Simple Joys in Nature printable—a gentle 30 Days of Noticing Challenge to help you slow down and reconnect.

📥 → Download For Free