What this Echidna told me about the state of my nervous system and being - something my Whoop and HRV never could
TLDR: Nature is so good. Next innovation ecosystem ‘hike’ is happening on Sunday, 30 November, along the Bay Walk from Brighton to St Kilda and back. RSVP here.
Over the years I’ve really taken nature and its impact on my system for granted. Growing up in Australia and being surrounded by what we are will do this to you - we might not even know how lucky we are until we live somewhere else, or are forced to be more conscious of it in some other way.
This was once me, and it took long investment banking hours and then living in London for me to fully realise it. For someone who’s aware of this, absolutely loves nature, and who likes to live very much in tune with nature and my system, the impact of the busyness of life can still catch me off guard.
I’ve had a seriously self-imposed busy year, and have recently moved to the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, for a few fun reasons, with more on that to come.
Walking on the beaches down here is something else. Despite the immense beauty, the first few times I stepped out felt like a typical fitness walk - just getting it done because I needed to move my body.
My baseline was still as elevated as I would have been walking around the city or the bay - I wasn’t experiencing the calm, ease, inspiration and limitless potential that I usually feel when I am immersed in somewhere like that. I know this expansive feeling very well (and hence our hikes!) and it’s usually accompanied by other things too, like incredible animals, nature displays, and/or amazing humans. And these walks… nadda.
Then this last time, I finally felt grounded again - like I had descended and reset. Back and more connected to my innate flow and to nature. It felt so good, and more profound than any change I could track with some limited data points.
And the outcome? Seeing this Echidna (below) in the vast 16 Beach landscape, and being with it for a crazy long 10 minutes, where my being didn’t interrupt its flow until it was almost on top of me (and I had to tell it I was there, another cute story for another time). It’s good to be back.
How does being in nature support you?
If you’re in the innovation ecosystem and in Naarm - Melbourne, this month, hopefully see you on the 30th: https://events.humanitix.com/nature-club-30-november-2025
