(addendum to “a day in the life”)

Throw pinecones in the river to see how long you can keep an eye on them as they speed away

Look up a lot

Get to know the clouds

Study, so you can call nature by all of her names

Whisper when you do

Talk less in general, except to yourself

Tell yourself jokes

Notice unfamiliar sounds, like the gopher ripping grass from above ground to drag down into its hole

Watch the gopher do this for as long as you want

Check every hole and nest, cautiously

Follow tracks

Identify scat

Climb

Do not dampen your enthusiasm

Try to drink a gallon of water every day

Scream wildly once in a while

Hold yourself when you cry. Imagine the embrace of the person who’d make you feel loved enough to let it all out

Let it all out

Touch all the trees you can reach

Be naked in fresh air whenever you can

Climb mountains when you feel like it

Eat fresh snow

Greet every living creature that comes within two meters

Don’t take it personally if they don’t respond. Every hello is a generosity

Greet blood-suckers ruthlessly. You’ll know them when you see them

Make eye contact

Bow toward hooved creatures

Crouch low to greet dogs

Caw raucously at ravens

Write postcards to the humans you like

Ignore the rest as much as possible

Pay attention to yourself

Dance

Stretch

Breathe

Take up all the space you need