What Nature Teaches About Living Well
- bmorrissey31
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
There’s something about sloths that captivates me. They’ve quietly become one of my all-time favorite creatures.
On a trip to Costa Rica with my family this week, I made it a mission to see them in person—live, in their natural habitat. It took a 1.5-hour drive to a small, family-run sloth sanctuary that used to be a palm oil farm, now transformed into a lush eco-garden protecting the species.
And yes—it was absolutely worth it.
My fascination with sloths began over two years ago, during another visit to Costa Rica. I fell down a deep (and very slow) rabbit hole learning about how they live, eat, sleep, raise babies… and of course, why they move so darn slowly. Their pace is the exact opposite of how many of us live—especially in the U.S., where hustle culture teaches us to maximize every minute of the day.
But sloths offer us a different kind of wisdom.
Sure, I wanted to see them because they’re adorable—but also because they are powerful, living, breathing reminders of another way to be. They are the embodiment of present-moment awareness. I watched in awe as a mama sloth cuddled her baby on her chest, gently demonstrating how to select just the right tender green leaf. She reached slowly, almost meditatively, choosing the leaf with care—pausing to feel its moisture, its weight, its color—then bringing it to her mouth and chewing slowly, purposefully, for several minutes.
Even the baby, a little girl identified by the black stripe on her back, moved with the same innate, unhurried grace. After nibbling on just a few leaves, she climbed back into her mother’s embrace and fell asleep. Because hey, that was a lot of work.
It was all so intentional. So mindful. So... beautiful.
Meanwhile, we humans are often eating lunch while checking emails, making calls while driving, or “spending time” with loved ones while our minds are a million miles away.
That’s why I come back to this theme of slowing down again and again. On purpose. It’s a reminder we all need—especially those of us who are wired for productivity or care deeply for others. Slowing down isn’t lazy. It’s wise. It’s nourishing. It’s essential.
Sloth-Inspired Self-Care Reminders:
Pause before you eat. Look at your food. Taste it. Chew slowly.
If a child is near you, be with them. Not on your phone. Not mentally at work. Fully with them.
Take a nap. Or a walk. Or a breath.
Just because the world moves fast doesn’t mean you have to.
A Few Fun (and Enlightening) Sloth Facts:
Sloths sleep between 15–18 hours a day.
They move less than 1 mile every four hours through the trees. On the ground, they often fall over or crawl with great effort.
They typically poop only once a month (yep, you read that right).
Their slow, energy-efficient lifestyle has helped them survive on Earth for over 64 million years.
Clearly, they’re doing something right. So let’s take a cue from them and slow…the…F…down.
Okay, maybe not that slow. We’re humans after all—we’re built differently. But even pausing for three intentional breaths right now can shift everything.
Try it:
Close your eyes.
Inhale slowly…
Exhale fully…
Repeat two more times.
Notice how you feel.
Chances are, you’ll feel just a little more alive… and a little more at peace.
🌿 Final Note:
I revisit this topic again and again because we need these reminders. Not just once. Over and over. To soften. To return. To re-learn how to care for ourselves and enjoy life more fully.
Sloths aren’t just cute.They’re teachers.
Are you willing to slow down and learn?
PS: An Invitation to slow down and go deeper…
If your soul is whispering that it’s time to pause, soften, and make space for what’s next… you’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate that unfolding alone either.
The Emergence Portal is a 12-week sacred circle I’m gathering this spring—an intimate, hand-selected group of women who are ready to slow down just enough to hear their own inner wisdom more clearly. We’ll move gently but intentionally, weaving in practices of self-nurture, reflection, conscious leadership, and aligned action.
We’ll sit with big questions, explore desires that have been quietly waiting, and support each other in remembering what really matters. It’s less about doing more—and more about becoming who you’re here to be.What Nature Teaches Ab
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