We often hear that after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis life can change you in many ways, not just physically but your outlook on life too. It can make you see things from a whole different perspective – a perspective where you learn to appreciate the smaller things in life and stress less about those non-important issues that perhaps you once did.

You may find yourself appreciating things that you may not have noticed before such as the smell of fresh grass after it’s been cut, the blossom that appears on a beautiful tree or the calming sounds of a fresh beach wave. These things have always been around us, but life may have been too busy to really sit, listen and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us all. If you have found yourself at a point where you have more free time on your hands, then maybe spend some time on appreciating what mother nature has to offer.

Why not spend a little bit of your recovery and healing time listening to the sounds around you and exploring some of the natural hidden treasures that may very well be just a stone’s throw away from your doorstep.

Breathing in fresh air is good for the soul and we mean really breathing it in. Throughout the South West, we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful beaches in the country therefore why not take this time to visit as many as you can. Whether you just sit and listen to the waves or take a gentle stroll on the sand, a trip to the seaside can be great medicine, some ‘vitamin sea’!

Maybe a gentle meadow stroll would easier to get to?. We are spoilt for choice at this end of the country with a huge array of National Trust or English Heritage gardens and woodlands. Each site holds its own beauty and if you listen closely enough you will hear nature calling – When Spring & Summer are in full swing gardens such as these burst with music. The rich and mellow calls of nature can be very harmonious. A heady mix of birdsong, vibrant colours, scents of the outdoors.

Not only do we have beautiful beaches and stunning woodlands we do of course have the wide-open space of Dartmoor. You may not be ready to climb a tor or tackle one of its steepest hills, but you can appreciate its beauty.

There are many points throughout Dartmoor where you can start a gentle dog walk for instance and the best part about having such a large open space is that you can choose your finish point/ goal post.

Not only does Dartmoor spoil us with breath-taking views during the day it is also a great location to watch the sun set a night or rise early in the morning – if you haven’t ever watched the sun set on the edge of Dartmoor, we encourage you to do so, especially with a flask of your favourite hot drink and a shortbread finger (or our favourite biscuit of choice, a chocolate hobnob).

We hope you found this article useful and if you have found a special hidden treasurer whilst on your road to recovery and would like to share it with others then please do drop the details below in the comments box.

This article was put together to mark the importance of World Listening Day (Monday 18th July) a day that encourages us all to listen to the world around us and reminds us all of the importance of setting aside some time to pay attention to the beautiful natural sounds around us.

Life Changes After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis