Nurture may not be my Forte; Healing in Nature is

When my boys were young and rambunctious we attended my cousin’s wedding. This was the stage when they expressed their emotions in karate kicks. I stole that quote from Amy Poehler. It is too accurate in the case of my boys. My three littles were hard to wrangle on a normal day let alone in the midst of calm and collected wedding folk.

By the start of the first dance I was exhausted. I noticed wedding organizers handing out a small bottle of bubbles for everyone to blow towards the new bride and groom. Aw me. Such a charming tradition. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

That captivating moment with its twinkle lights all aglow and soft, romantic music was disastrously interrupted when my boys all ran to within an inch of the bride’s dress and spit bubble solution all over it. Not bubbles. Bubble solution. The type of spitting where no bubbles actually form and it just drips down in a gooey, sloppy stream. Plus their spit.

The next thrilling development on scene, a bottle was dropped and the sudden need for a bubble solution dam arose. One was promptly improvised by a few family members that took pity on me or more likely didn’t want to see the happy couple turn this scene into a slip ‘n slide type situation. I didn’t stick around to ask due to the fact while all this was happening I was in pursuit of another one of my brilliant spawn while he tried to drink from his bottle of bubble solution. The fact that he was giggling uncontrollably endeared him to the rest of the jostled guests he left in his wake. I on the other hand was less than endeared. I caught him. Tears ensued. Predominantly mine.

In a profusion of apologies I gathered my darling brood with offers similar to that heard during a hostage situation. I spent the next hour using up every drop of my bubble solution. I found the act of blowing bubbles very soothing. Maybe this is a good time to point out that I don’t drink. Of all the times I considered starting this was definitely in the top 3. The bubble blowing slowed my breathing. I could watch the bubbles float away. And bonus, my boys chased the bubbles instead of each other for that time. Much of the pain we suffer in this life though, cannot be gently blown away like those bubbles.

One book I recently read is titled, Forest Therapy, written by author, Sarah Ivens. She says, “Some things are too sad, too difficult or too painful to be blown away on the breeze. But things can be improved. Dull moments can be brightened. Sad moments can become lightened when we value ourselves and surround ourselves with things that we know are good for our mental and physical well being.”

I am learning that I need access to nature for my mental and physical well being. Forest therapy provides that access on a regular basis. It is where things start to improve. My pain level decreases. My mood lightens. My brain spinning slows. Why do you think it is then that I, like many others, view nature as a luxury and not a necessity? We all know children need that break in their day. They need to feel the breeze or sun or rain or cold often in their day to function at their best.

Do you recognize your own need to get outside through your day as much as you see it in your children? Would that perception change if you knew that cutting yourself off from nature is not beneficial to your overall wellness? Studies are showing it is detrimental to our mental and physical well being. But is it the first thing to go when your to-do list gets too long? We need to get outside for our daily dose of vitamin D (and so much more) as much as or more than our kids! So we can handle our kids. Ha! Make your own physical activity outside as much of a priority as you would your kids’! It doesn’t take much to make a big difference. Ten minutes of grounding (shoes off, feet on the grass/sand/gravel) will make a world of difference. Let me know in the comments if you notice a difference in your overall mood or pain level after trying this practice for a week.

I have a tree in my backyard. When it’s too muddy or cold or if I don’t have time to get on the ground, I will place my hands on the tree. I don’t hug it but I don’t fault anyone for wanting to hug a tree. To each her own. I read that Beethoven would literally hug a linden tree in his yard. He said the woods, the trees, and rocks give man the resonance he needs. That’s what I get from putting a hand on my tree. I connect with the earth and all its healing properties. And I very much view my time there as one of my needs. Where the chaos of my life can become sweet harmony.

Those boys of mine are getting all grown up. One of them is married himself now. They still get a little rambunctious at times. Though thankfully their karate kicks are not often directed at each other or to express emotion. I don’t need a bottle of bubbles (or booze) to survive a formal event with them. I just breathe deeply and know that I can go down in the woods “tomorrow”.

I was thrilled to see forest therapy becoming more mainstream in an article I happened upon this morning. Take a read https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/forest-bathing-what-it-is-and-why-some-alberta-doctors-recommend-it-1.6911598

I end with these words from American poet and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau. I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately.

Anyone that wishes to live deliberately, I invite you to join me in the forest. Head over to my contact page to book a forest therapy walk.

I’d love to know what you think of all this sweet friends. Leave me a message in the comments.