Nourish in Nature
As a child, my parents always insisted that we spend time outside as a family. I did not appreciate the immense value of this at the time, but I'm incredibly grateful now that the importance of spending time outdoors was instilled in me at such a young age.
Looking back on my life, the times that felt more wrought with a struggle were when I did not prioritize getting outside regularly.
Nature has many benefits for our overall well-being, yet we often neglect to prioritize it based on time, weather or technology.
If you are debating getting out in nature today, let me highlight some of the researched benefits of being in nature.
~It is well-studied that putting your bare feet on the ground can help bind some of the free radicals (illness-causing) that are naturally produced in your body every day.
~ Improved emotional well-being - we just feel better, happier, and healthier after being in nature
~Lower chance of near-sightedness. Natural light offers a brighter and richer collection of light wavelengths to see with. We also look at more objects that are at various distances when outdoors.
~ Boosted immune function due to exposure to microorganisms that give our immune systems the practice it needs to function correctly.
~Brain and body restoration is desperately needed and achieved in nature due to our constantly overstimulated lives.
~We sleep better because natural sunlight during the daytime can make us feel more tired at night, shortening the time it takes to fall asleep at night and improving the quality of your rest.
~ Fresh air can give you a much-needed break from indoor air pollutants, which are two to five times higher than outdoor concentrations
In nature,
blame and victimhood do not exist.
I recently read Denis Liam Murphy's new book, The Blame Game. It has profoundly changed my life regarding how I view nature and our inherent connection to it. Spending so much time in nature in Australia in February 2023 brought the truth of his book to life for me, as I spent the majority of my time there in the natural world, completely disconnected and immersed in the beauty around me.
In nature, blame and victimhood do not exist.
The same is true for us, though this has been trained out of us for thousands of years, as we have learned to implement control in every aspect of our lives. When we are able to explore blame within us, we begin to relinquish control and realize that instead, we are continuously co-creating with everyone and everything around us. Beauty emerges as we begin to disentangle ourselves from the blame and victimhood that is all we have ever known without even realizing it. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! If you read it, let me know what you think. I'd love to discuss it! Here is a link for purchase.
Living in Silicon Valley, I often feel overwhelmed by the hum and buzz of technology, social media, big tech, and the vibe of all the people trying to get ahead. Nature provides a sanctuary where I can escape, get centered, and remember what is important to me. I am so grateful for a breath of fresh air, a cool breeze, a drop of rain, or a ray of sunlight.
Your reading this, in itself, demonstrates a renewed way of thinking! I believe humanity is turning away from screens and artificial stimulation and towards what the earth offers us. We are now being handed synthetic food and designer drugs, but it is what nature has been showing us for thousands of years that heals our bodies.
Let’s get out into nature!
In health,
Liz