Courtney Adamo

Courtney Adamo

How Courtney Adamo lets nature restore her perspective

Minding Nature is Koala Eco’s regular thread where we talk to inspiring people we believe genuinely live and breathe a nature-focused lifestyle, and who can perhaps inspire us to do the same.

This time we’ve caught up with Byron Bay-based author and businesswoman Courtney Adamo, who is also a lifestyle and parenting blogger, and a mother of five. With such a busy life, how does Courtney make time to connect to nature?

What’s your favourite thing to do in nature?

It’s not easy picking a favourite, but I think I’d have to say surfing. When I’m sitting out on my surfboard, there’s this feeling of total immersion in nature, a oneness with it. My mind is nowhere else; the stresses or challenges in life are left back on the beach and I am just present in the moment, my eyes fixed on the waves rolling in, my body bobbing up and down in rhythm with the ocean. Often there are dolphins or turtles within view to remind me that I am sharing this experience with not just other surfers but animals as well. Of course, the actual act of surfing a wave is pretty exhilarating too.

Describe your connection to nature: what positives does it bring to your life? 

I think nature provides such wonderful perspective. Just standing in a forest, surrounded by old trees, I am reminded how brief my time on this planet is, and I feel encouraged to live with more awareness and intention. If you pay attention to the plants or flowers in your garden, you are reminded of the rhythms and cycles of life, and you can see the beauty in both the beginnings and endings. If you stand at the base of a mountain, you realise how tiny you are, such a small speck on this planet. Nature can be so humbling, which in turn can make life feel even more miraculous.

What are your fondest memories of spending time in nature?

I grew up in the very northwest corner of America, between the sea and the snow-capped mountains. My childhood was really spent outside in all seasons, so I have many fond childhood memories of being in nature.

In 2015, after living in London for 12 years, we spent a year travelling around the world with our children and experienced many landscapes new to us. We hiked in Yosemite National Park in the US, we rode horses on a beautiful, wild ranch in Uruguay, we surfed with a pod of dolphins at the southernmost tip of New Zealand, we hiked the Blue Mountains in Australia, we saw wild elephants in Sri Lanka, the list goes on. We have so many fond memories from our travels.  That year was the most incredible year of my life.

Many of us are time-poor, and might not get out into nature as much as we’d like. Any suggestions for a quick nature-based pick-me up? Something sensory, experiential…? 

I think sometimes it’s not so much about what you’re doing as much as it is about being aware while doing it. Just today, as I was cycling back from dropping my son off at preschool, I noticed this enormous jacaranda tree dropping its purple petals on the street and I enjoyed the smell of jasmine in the air. These little moments brought a bit of joy to my morning. Sometimes I think we are too often rushing from one thing to the next without noticing what is around us. When you’re walking to the cafe to grab a coffee or to the bakery to buy bread, try leaving your phone at your desk so you can look up and notice all the things around you. Or if you find yourself near a beach, take your shoes off and walk barefoot in the sand and notice how that feels. Even just walking barefoot in grass, or stopping for a minute to smell a flower, taking note of an old tree in the park, or noticing the sounds of birds outside your window. Even in cities, nature is all around us. We just need to remember to look for it and to carve out time to connect with it.

← Older Post Newer Post →

Sunrise exercise and family beach time with Kara Demmrich

Sunrise exercise and family beach time with Kara Demmrich

Anyone who’s a fan of popular Australian TV series, The Block, will probably recognise one half of 2015’s winning duo, Kara Demmrich. She and husband...

Read more
New Laundry Wash: a deep dive into our Ingredients

New Laundry Wash: a deep dive into our Ingredients

What makes our Laundry range so effective? Learn more about our ingredients. Harnessing the natural power of enzymes to effectively eliminate stains and odors. When...

Read more
In harmony with the natural world: Maggie Hewitt’s connection to nature

In harmony with the natural world: Maggie Hewitt’s connection to nature

New Zealand-born Maggie Hewitt was only 21 when she founded her fashion brand Maggie Marilyn in 2016, and began a journey to create an ethical...

Read more
Why composting is more important than you think

Why composting is more important than you think

Changing how we dispose of our food scraps as a society is one of the easiest ways to positively impact the environment.⁠⁠Throwing food scraps (like...

Read more
Why going outside is good for your skin

Why going outside is good for your skin

Dry, irritated skin is something many of us struggle with, whether it’s related to our general health, our broader environment or genetics. We’ve created a...

Read more
Embracing Nature's Artistry: An Interview with Sarah Hendriks Smith

Embracing Nature's Artistry: An Interview with Sarah Hendriks Smith

In this exclusive interview, we sit down with our friend Sarah Hendriks Smith, the creative force behind Cisco & the Sun. With over 15 years...

Read more