Seventy degrees! That's what's forecast for the weekend! Seventy degrees...seven zero. And it's the middle of March! Don't get me wrong, I am ready for spring but not going from 28-30 degrees to 70 degrees. That's too hot too fast...and the next thing coming will probably be another snow storm! Okay, enough said.
Back to our focus...nature. You know as I was thinking about this I realized that even though we haven't treated 'nature' very well, it still gives us a great deal.
A walk in the woods really helps our well being. And yes, in the woods or somewhere in nature. A walk in an urban setting is good for us but a walk in a nature setting reaps so many more benefits that it is worth our while to find someplace, a park, or a neighborhood with tons of trees, to walk in 'nature'.
Two studies, one in Japan and one in Finland, found similar results when participants walked in nature as compared to walking in an urban area. Folks walking in nature had less stress, felt more relaxed and were actually happier.
Have you read any books about nature? Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, The Hidden Lives of Trees: How They Feel, How They communicate by Peter Wohllben and The Secret Life of Trees: How They Live and Why They Matter by Colin Tudge may be good books to begin with.
And nature changes, as do we all. The circle of life from waking up in the spring, blossoming, giving us beautiful flowers and leaves and then beginning to close down in the fall and rest during winter. It is a lesson we can all observe and learn from. We all need to honor the time we are in whether we are excited about a new project or taking time to recharge, whether we are at the beginning of our journey or further on.
So next time you find yourself wondering what to do...take a walk in the woods!
Talk with you tomorrow...