The Unfolding of Nature

As part of the WOW-Women on Writing blog tour for Rumination Remedies by Sheri McGregor, I'm answering a writing prompt about finding awe in Nature. You can learn more about this book, read an interview by the author and enter to win a copy HERE. Stop by for my review tomorrow!

The Unfolding of Nature

As a gardener, I plant the easy things. The things that are predictable, just won't die and don't require a lot of special care. The standards: daffodils, irises, black eyed Susans, allium, azaleas, lilacs, zinnias.

Occasionally I stray from my tried and true flowers. That's what happened with the cannas. I didn't really have a working knowledge of cannas but it was during lockdown and a local charity was having an online basket auction. And I was bored. One prize showed a photo of striking tall red flowers. I think I bought $2 worth of tickets. But I won.

The drawbacks of an online auction quickly became obvious when I picked up my prize (social distancing, of course). I did not have to wrestle large plants into the back of the car.

Instead, I received a plastic grocery bag full of what looked like clumps of dirt. What? Where the gorgeous flowers that would cheer up my lonely COVID days?

After a little online sleuthing, I planted the tubers in an empty flowerbed, not expecting much. Nothing happened for a couple of weeks but when the green shoots began poking through the dirt it was as if they were super charged by seeing the sun. Tracing the growth of the cannas was an adventure. First, they grew as tightly wound green sticks. But gradually, they unfurled into pipes (see my photo above). I had never seen anything like it. Each day they opened more and more until I was left with a huge flat leaf that looked like something appropriate for fanning Cleopatra in the heat of Egypt.

But the wasn't the end. They grew taller...and taller...and taller. Each morning I would check

them and swear they had grown a foot the day before. Eventually, I took out a tape measure and determined that they were over seven feet tall. Along the way they bloomed. Some bright red flowers that weren't anything special -- or so I thought. They quickly revealed themselves to be a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. The patio, which overlooked the flowerbed, was soon buzzing with action.

I spent many afternoons on the patio, marveling at the unexpected wonder of the cannas. Each year I plant the unassuming, soil covered tubers with excitement for what they will become. Each year, they amaze me.

Rumination Remedies by Sheri McGregor

The human brain is amazingly resilient but in today's stress-filled and overstimulating world, your mind can get stuck. Worry, regret, and racing thoughts steal your joy, peace, and confidence-not to mention sleep. The good news? You can change the pattern.

Rumination Remedies is a gentle, smart guide to freeing your mind so you can stop overthinking and let go of anxiety. Whether you're caught up in dread, weighed down by regret, or distracted by what-ifs or wishes, this practical workbook offers holistic, body-friendly and brain-building ways to rewire your anxious brain, stop worrying.

You'll play your way through this engaging workbook to stop overthinking that helps you gain wise growth and renewal using your brain's natural neuroplasticity. Personally engaging, alternatives to make the remedies your own, and room for reflection make this workbook uniquely experiential.

I love this book. In Rumination Remedies, Sheri McGregor offers 41 evidence-based strategies to interrupt overthinking and restore calm, each grounded in neuroscience and infused with deep compassion. She draws from a wide range of proven practices: vagal nerve stimulation, intentional change theory, awe and gratitude exercises, embodiment and mindful movement, cold exposure, self-talk reframing, nature-based practices, and more. The breadth of these approaches means everyone will find several that resonate and can make a meaningful difference in their lives. This is more than a workbook; it is a guide to reclaiming presence, cultivating resilience, and building new neural pathways for peace and clarity.

Irena O’Brien, PhD Founder, The Neuroscience School Host of the podcast “Neuroscience of

Coaching”