Day 86 – Parklife and Meditation

Journey: Komulankongas – Kajaarni – Tiilikkajarva National Park – Koli Nature Centre

We are literally going from one National Park to the next and it’s wonderful being out in nature so much. Driving in between them we are listening to various podcasts and today’s Sustainabable one talked about how treadmills were originally made as a torture weapon 😂 (Oscar Wilde was put on one for 6 hrs a day)! However if there is a presence of nature be it apot plant or just a picture you still get stage 1 benefits of environment engagement, though ideally you would run outside undistracted by a podcast, or for stage 3 full engagement get fully immersed and run through mud or climb trees. Nature certainly lifts your mood 🌳

While getting further into this journey I am trying new ways to better myself and alongside regular exercise/water/healthy food, I’m now trying to meditate in the mornings and kurb my social media addiction. To this end I’m trying some apps my friends have recommended:
Freedom – allows you to block selected apps for set periods of time, so now I only look in the evening rather than constantly through the day. Tried it today and works great!

Headspace – loving this meditation app as it’s tailored, friendly, has a good range of courses, looks nice and is easy to use

10 percent happier – this is great as it separates learning about the benefits of meditation from the actual meditation practice. The basics course is pared down with little music/talk which I personally prefer

Insight Timer – I found this one less easy to use, but did find a nice morning affirmation one. Think it would be more trial and error finding a teacher whose style you liked

I’ve still a few more to try but it’s nice having that 5min focused me time (though Mabel was nuzzling for attention during one session ❤️).

Anyway back to our day. Our first walk was at a lovely double waterfall called Komulankongas, once again Mabel caught a scent and we were left jogging behind her as she zig zagged in pursuit, to no end but she had fun.

We then drove on to our first major town in ages. Kajaarni had a strange art gallery…very abstract concept art, we did the daily grocery shop and I bought a jazzy pair of socks off a lovely lady who knitted them on her market stall. Typical of me to buy woolly socks as we drive south to the warmth 😂

Our afternoon walk was at Tiilikkajarva National Park which has a promintary between two lakes and leads out to a little beach area where Jasper could swim, Mabel could roll and Ernest could sit and stare. After dinner a long drive to Koli Nature Centre but we are ready to roll out of bed and walk the pups first thing