Dreamscape Jewelry Design

April 11, 2021: Finding the Natural Cure

“I go to nature to be soothed, healed and have my senses put in order.” 

– John Burroughs

A fall on the ice in February, led to a diagnosis of a fractured sacrum, a back brace and a necessary curtailing of mobility. As a result, my daily walks in nature were eliminated, and explorations of the natural world were restricted to watching the daily bird activity on the deck outside our windows.

This week for the first time, I was able to head outdoors on a trail at a nature preserve in Rochester, NH. I discovered the sojourn to provide a much needed antidote to all of the worries that result from all of the uncertainties that currently pervade our modern world. Camera in hand, I savored the joy and freedom of finally being outdoors and walking freely again. Any remaining worries seemed to ebb away in the sights and stories that were unfolded on the trail surrounding us.

“There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”

-Rachel Carson

There is certainty in the changing of the seasons, especially after a long, cold winter. This time of year, the signs of change emerge daily. We welcome the buds on the trees and celebrate the return of migrating birds. Longer days of sunlight add a brightness to our days and the warmer weather brings freedom from layers of cumbersome winter gear.

Time spent in nature provides a respite from all of the cacophony of noise and stress of a hectic society. There is something healing about being in nature whether it’s a walk on a beach, a hike on a mountain, or a stroll through a nature preserve. Even watching birds through our windows, arranging flowers, gardening, or listening to nature sounds can be healing. Any negative energy or worrisome thoughts seem to drain away, restoring us with positive energy. Even just a few minutes with nature helps to bring a feeling of well being.

A study published in the journal of cardiology found that being in nature even for a few hours has a calming effect on the mind and body – lowering blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) and also reducing the levels of stress hormones like cortisol in the bloodstream. With the reduction in cortisol, the body automatically returns to the parasympathetic mode where healing and restoration take place.

https://www.outofstress.com/ways-nature-heals-you/

Cortisol, a stress hormone, is released in our bloodstream in response to stress. It blocks the normal production of melatonin which we need for sleep, which can result in brain fatigue. Research has shown that time in nature, helps to calm the brain and restore its natural balance.

“The opportunity to balance all that technology with time spent in nature, unplugged from digital devices, has the potential to rest and restore our brains, improve our productivity, reduce our stress levels and make us feel better.”

Cognitive Psychologist: David Strayer

When we are fully present in the natural world, the chatter in our brain quiets, and we can discover a welcome and restorative sense of peace. Each one of us will have our own personal activity or places to go that deeply touch our spirit. Whether it’s a few minutes or hours, spending time in nature has proven to be a powerful preventive medicine; reducing a variety of health issues from inflammation and stress, to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. https://www.outofstress.com/ways-nature-heals-you/

My road to healing took its time, and the joy I found in observing and photographing the birds at our feeders certainly helped. But it was the ability to actually be outdoors this week that renewed my sense of peace and usual positivity.

Where do you go or what do you to feel healed and restored? When do you get to spend time with nature?

Thank you as always for reading our blog. Please feel free to share it with someone who might find it meaningful. We welcome your thoughts or quotes that inspire you in the comments below.

Some Additional Quotes to Inspire and Motivate:

“A walk in nature, walks the soul back home.”

Mary Davis

“Just being surrounded by bountiful nature, rejuvenates and inspires us.“

– EO wilson (Theory of biophilia)

“Nature itself is the best physician.”

Hippocratees

“The greener the setting, the more the relief.”

Richard Louv

“We depend on nature not only for our physical survival, we also need nature to show us the way home, the way out of the prison of our own minds.”

Eckhart Tolle

“Spare time in the garden, either digging, setting out, or weeding; there is no better way to preserve your health.”

– Richard Louv

“Place your hands into soil to feel grounded. Wade in water to feel emotionally healed. Fill your lungs with fresh air to feel mentally clear. Raise your face to the heat of the sun and connect with that fire to feel your own immense power”

– Victoria Erickson

“All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child.”

― Marie Curie

“Nature isn’t a miracle cure for diseases, but by interacting with it, spending time in it, experiencing it and appreciating it, we can reap the benefits of feeling happier and healthier as a result.”

– Lucy McRobert, The Wildlife Trust

“People don’t have to head for the woods to enjoy nature’s restorative effects. Even a glimpse of nature from a window helps.”

– Rachel Kaplan, Dept of Psychology, University of Michigan

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”

– Albert Einstein