Have you ever wondered… about forest bathing? I have. Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese word or term for it; this art or practice originated in Japan. It is an idea that you can heal yourself by immersing your body, mind, and soul in the natural world. I do not imply that it will fix all ailments, but it can help to lift one’s spirits. You can disconnect from the grind and hustle of life in order to reconnect with your senses; you can do so solo or in a group.
Leave your walls of comfort to admire her leaves.
Stroll through her woods;
walk in her fields.
Just stop and smell her roses.
Unplug from the screens,
take a break from technology,
and let Mother Nature give us her remedy,
all-naturally, holistically.
I was recently sent a Reader’s Digest to reference something mentioned to me a few weeks back. As I flipped to the page detailed, the article before it caught my attention – “The Upside of Anxiety”. I will spend at least an entire cycle on anxiety at some point, but, for now, the following quote jumped off the page to rightfully disrupt my balance:
Spending time in natural light and green spaces can restore balance.
I am not sugjesting giving up on modern comforts, at least completely. I imagine like most of y’all, I love my smartphone and internet access with streaming services to name a few, but I also strive to balance out my usage of them all with disuse of them all. I am better at it some days than others, and it will never be perfect, but I will keep up a concerted effort. Balance in everything can be crucial and critical. To avoid being hypocritical, I remind myself often to slow down more and worry less. I can only do one thing at a time, so I should approach each moment from as balanced of a standpoint as possible…
some tech use, some natural use
a show here or there, a stroll here or there
fruits and veggies, cakes and donuts
balance
Maybe it is wise.
Maybe it is dumb.
Time will tell.
Stay wondrous, y’all! :) <3
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods
there is rapture in the lonely shore
there is society where none intrudes
by the deep sea and the music in its roar
I love not Man the less
but Nature more
-Lord Byron