Day 18: Connecting with nature to improve my wellbeing in the dark days of winter by finding a snail in the pouring rain

The best way to connect with nature when you are rushing out

The rain was heavy, and relentless. Blowing in my face like a dysfunctional shower head. I am fully kitted out in my we weather gear – goretex from head to toe. I am holding a torch and to be honest not feeling like being outside this evening. My time is squeezed as I am going out for a Christmas meal with my old school friends this evening. We had a Christmas get together at work this afternoon – so I didn’t leave until late. Now I am really rushed to get outside and also blog about it. I decide to be kind to myself and look at the plant that is growing closest to the front of the mini-wild flower meadow. I shine the torch on the soaking wet spiky leaves of what I think is some meadow vetchling. I am admirin the awesome resilience of these plants to not only just exist but to cheerfully keep on growing in these dark days. I am pondering about the photosynthetic rate when all of a sudden I spot something ….

A Huge Drop of Rain Above a Tiny Snail

There is some dead twiggy plant material near the plant I am observing. Slowly moving it’s way along one of the twigs is a rather handsome banded snail. As I look more carefully I make two rather comical observations. The first is that there is a huge raindrop that looks like it is about to drop down on the snail’s shell. The raindrop is hanging from a twig just about the nail and is clinging perilously about to drop at any second. Secondly, because I am shining the torch on the snail and it is moving always from me. The snail stops moving, I can see its’ eyes pointed backwards watching me. I am watching a snail, who is watching me.

A Tiny Bit of Joy Goes A Long Way

I didn’t want to go out in the rain. I was going to film a beautiful, green, glistening plant. But my tiny exploration with the torch yielded a tiny diamond of joy – in seeing that snail – who was also looking back at me. If you haven’t got outside in the dark this December to search for a little nature near you, then try it this evening. Everytime, I feel so much better for putting the effort into getting outside and nature always gives me a wonderful treat to watch. Let me know how you get on!