Calling my 90 year old mother and talking to her everyday - we live over a thousand miles away from each other. I was finally able to visit her in September after almost 2 years because of the d@mn virus. My husband is my comfort and my anchor

- we have been together for 45 years.. Our 2 Australian Shepherds are creatures of joy, laughter, challenge, responsibility and love.

Books. I learned long ago whoever has/reads the most books wins at the game of life.

I look forward to my weekly bell choir practice. That hour of making something together, where every one of us is essential to the whole, feeds me for the week ahead. (as you might guess, we play a lot of church music. There’s an amateur choir around that plays secular music, and the next time they have an opening I’m going to audition. After hearing another choir play selections from West Side Story many years ago, I’m hankering to play some variety!)

Time with my husband. Time in the garden. My faith. My husband and I both find the outdoors immensely important to our well being. We love to take the boat into a quiet cove and just float and enjoy the peace and quiet. Something about the water. We are the same way just being out in the woods, the mountain area, etc. just away from everything and everyone else. It's the sense of peace. Also, time with friends, especially time with my best friend. We did that today. Just the two of us easing each other's concerns, sharing things only shared between the two of us, etc. I left her feeling lighter, if that makes sense. Music.

Running in the trails that go on forever with my running buddies. We run 4-5 times a week and hike twice a week and it saves us all. We stop when we catch the sun hitting the moss hanging off the trees, we stop if the river is running wild, we stop at interesting logs especially if they remind someone of something, we stop if it's torrential rain and we just start to laugh at ourselves, and sometimes we just stop to breathe in the mountain air.

Besides my grandson? Nature: trees, birds, wild animals, water esp bodies of salt water, flowers, etc. Oh, and cats.

So many things in nature - water, forests, animals, rainbows. The meteor shower going on this week. Strolling through an antique store, art show or a museum. Horses, even that barn smell. The scent of fresh cut grass also soothes my soul.

Thank you for that link, DLM..it was very soothing to watch. Everything about it spoke to me. I love nature and gardening and will totally get lost in it as I work. I'm mesmerized by butterflies as they skit around my plants and love watching the caterpillars chomp away at the milkweed. Acts of kindness, whether on my part or someone else's feeds my soul. Gratitude allows me to appreciate all in life and that feeds my spirit.

Yes, thank you for the link. I'm going to watch it with my DD tonight. She's going through a bit of a rough patch and needs some positive energy. She and I have a pair of youtubers we watch who have an energy that resonates with us both. They share their ups and downs, so it's not just positives, but somehow it feels like having spent 30 minutes with close friends when we are done watching.

Another thing I've done during C is to invest in the equipment to grow flats of microgreens and salad greens. Last night my arugula was ready to harvest for the first time this season and it made me so happy to slice off enough to make a big salad to go with our pizza.

I enjoy reading what each of you find soul-feeding and can see an anonymous someone in my mind doing all those things. Many I've experienced and relate to the calming effects - drifting on water in a boat, the warmth and smell walking into a barn, observing moss in the sun, watching caterpillars and butterflies, harvesting greens, dogs (of course!), books (of course!), bells would be new to me.

Here's another Liziqi video - just a casual meal with things found around the property ;-)

If I could sing, or play another instrument, I'd join that, too. A senior center nearby has a "Hummers and Strummers" group. They play ukeles and sing, they go the schools, farmers market, other events. Hey. I'm old enough now to join! How hard is the ukele?!?

Going for a walk by myself - preferably either in a forest, or on the beach. Both are equally restorative for me.

Runner-up - going for a walk which involves my 2 fuzzbutts. I love watching them have fun, but walking them is like trying to walk 2 butterflies - each wants to smell in a different direction and at a different pace. Some walks with them are fabulous - watching little kids pet them, me getting a chance to chat with neighbors - all good. Other walks they're like Tasmanian devils on a rope and so those are somewhat less restorative. Ha.

Our views here at our home in these beautiful Northern New Mexico mountains. Out back, I have an unobstructed view of “our” mountain behind us. Out front, I can see more than 50 miles down and out over the mesas to more mountains. Whether I sit inside or outside on one of our portals (covered patios), I find such peace seeing them. Being here, surrounded by it all.

When my older child was a toddler, DH would come home from work to find me lacing up my sneakers and ready to head out the door lol. A 20 minute walk did wonders for me after a day with a talkative 2-year-old! From time to time DH would ask plaintively ”are you coming back?” I always did!

One day I was getting a walk in before it rained. Suddenly a wall of black clouds came in fast, the wind kicked up, and I turned back towards home. Walk/ran! And I see our little car zooming towards me! I whipped open the door to get in and DS was in his carseat all chipper and excited ”Mommy, we are rescuing you!” Now THAT will restore your soul!

Reading a book or hiking in nature are my main ones, but a run or other exercise are close seconds.

Floating in my floaty chair on a beautiful lake on a sunny day. Definitely my happy place.

Coming here. (Today)

Or the woods. (Last week)

Really enjoying this thread. :)

We are at James River State Park . a Dark Sky Park, for 3 nights to watch the meteor shower and to hike and ride our bikes and enjoy the peace and time together. @Allison0704 hasn’t it been amazing????

Spending time with God, praying, worshiping, reading, studying and listening to His word. I listen to the Bible throughout the day while I'm working and am in communication via voxer with like-minded friends all day.

I have a Bible in a Year ap I use (almost) daily to keep my thoughts centered and positive. Also reading in general, time spent outdoors, and exercising with my Stepsisters (ladies who've worked out together and shared life for 10 + years.)

Natural beauty - lakes, forests, sunrises and sunsets, mountains - all of it. Baby animals including ducks, geese and all the rest. Seeing my previously abandoned cats curled up warm and safe in my house. A good heart to heart talk with DH about life.

The smell of the ocean, jazz, long walks by myself, cuddling with dogs, being silly with DH and creating beautiful things - either from scratch or by arrangement.

Cooking. Preparing good, healthy, nourishing food for myself and my family and friends relaxes me, brings me joy, and truly feeds my soul in addition to my body.

Walking at the beach, reading, listening to music and when in the mood, baking. Watching birds from my deck. All these bring me peace.

Time in the cathedral of the trees.

Being by a waterfall.

Meditating.

Cuddling a purring cat.

Counting my blessings.

A really great book -one where I come to a new understanding of humans or life or something, nature -always, deep conversation with a close friend or sister, walking my dog, creating something.

This is a picture from a week I spent at Chautauqua. I felt it was one of the most sacred spaces I'd ever been in, and it fed my soul many times that week.

i’m so surprised by the responses. Here I am, introvert+, and I feed my soul from playing music in a group. And it’s not like i’m one violin in an orchestra, I’m THE 4 or 5 notes of a song. I don’t even share their religion! (okay, we are in full communion, and hey, God knows whats in our hearts.) I am discovering the ”six degrees of separation” among me and my fellow ringers.

You all feed oh solitude in nature or a small group of meaningful relationships.

Maybe that’a it, I live on the connections, because they are hard for me to form? and on feeling part of something, because I so often feel out of place?

As you can tell by my username I do love walking a path, in nature, and i must live near water. Or in the Alps. But what feeds my soul? Making music with others. I’m not even a good musician!

DH and I went for a botanic garden walk today. And lunch, it was nice. But i’m so happy that i will ring with my bell choir this week.