JOY IN NATURE

‘We have calcium in our bones, iron in our veins, carbon in our souls, and nitrogen in our brains. 93 percent stardust, with souls made of flames, we are all just stars that have people names.’

~ Nikita Gill

Nature surrounds us, provides for us, protects us and is an integral part of our life. There are a multitude of such symbiotic relationships allowing plants, animals, and humans to enjoy a healthy nutrient exchange and a level of protection.

Being out in the wild, open expanse of nature is nourishment for our soul. A favourite memory of mine is competing in an ultra-marathon event in the Alpine region of Victoria, Australia. It is the most spectacular mountain trail run- also, one of the most gruelling. I didn’t manage to finish the 160km event- I can’t navigate and was running alone so once night fell I was lost. However, I did complete almost 100km of steep mountain climbs and descents with awesome views, refreshing river crossings, and magnificent Australian terrain.

I had been running and climbing all day when I came to the route across the high plains. There are a number of poles marking the Alpine Alps walking track and I was heading towards pole 333 to register at a check in point. As the sun was setting I was marvelling at brilliant colour of the sky when I caught sight of them. Brumbies, the wild horses of Australia thundering across the horizon. I was suddenly acutely aware of the fierce beauty that accompanies being wild and free.

There is nothing like seeing those majestic creatures running across rugged plains, and even the memory produces a wave of emotional gratitude for the experience. I want to highlight these horses escaped the confinement their ancestors had endured after traveling from England with early settlers. They broke free of their stables, liberated to run wild- we too can break free of the systems that keep us unwell.

The feeling of running along windy trails through the abundance of trees and shrubs, and alongside streams calms my nervous system. The rustle of leaves and crunch of twigs is immensely soothing and the smell of moss and soil set my senses alight. Experiencing a sunrise as the sky gets filled with vibrant orange and pink; or sunset when the streams of light diverge and the sun attempts to stretch out amber rays one last time are magic times; times that should not be missed.

There is an innate sense of connection experienced in spending time outdoors; a sense of connection rarely experienced in our disconnected world.

Somedays I play a game with myself and imagine that I am seeing nature for the first time without prior knowledge. I pretend I don’t know the identity of the elements around me. Imagine seeing a tree for the first time or a leaf fluttering in the wind. The overwhelming gnarly thickness of a tree trunk that narrows into towering skeletal branches dripping in greenery. And there is another beside it, similar but with striking differences. If we hadn’t learnt long ago to take for granted the presence of a tree in our daily trajectory, wouldn’t we just stand under it transfixed in awe and wonder?

If you engage your senses and feel the coolness of the air on your face, hear the crickets summer song, or birds chirping, see shades of green, red, brown with light and shadows dancing, and taste the fresh air; then you are in the moment, fully present, and magic follows.

We need connection for mental wellness

We have traded spending time in nature with office cubicles and florescent lighting. Technology has connected us, but we are lonelier than ever before, and most of us feel caged in.

We have lost our connection with the natural world.

Nurturing a connection with nature has helped me at my very lowest times and has saved me on many occasions. I resonate with Enos Mills, the American naturalist who led the fight to preserve what is now Rocky Mountain National Park, who stated:

‘The trail compels you to know yourself and to be yourself, and puts you in harmony with the universe. It makes you glad to be living. It gives health, hope, and courage, and it extends that touch of nature which tends to make you kind.’

There is much evidence pointing to a connection with nature and better mental health, and being outdoors transforms even the melancholiest of states. Our natural world takes us on a transformative journey and throughout history are examples people venturing into nature to find inspiration, purpose and meaning.

There are approximately 450 million people suffering mental health disorders globally, and most of us can think of someone in our lives that are highly stressed and not coping. It is likely associated with our increasing disconnect with natural surrounds. Being in nature lowers stress and even a 15-minute walk in a forest causes measurable changes in physiology,  There is much research to support that humans need to connect with nature, but we really don’t need research to tell us that; do we? We can feel the magnetic pull.

However, I will list a few studies for those who may be skeptical. In 2009, Dutch researchers highlighted that there is a lower incidence of 15 diseases; including depression, anxiety, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and migraines in people who lived within one kilometer to green space. Also, a recent study in the United Kingdom, involving 95,000 participants across ten cities, reported a protective effect on depression from hanging out in greenery, showing that those living in leafier communities are 4 percent less likely to suffer from a major depressive disorder.

Then in 2015 an international team collected data from health questionnaire responses from more than 31,000 Toronto residents onto a map of the city, block by block. Those living on blocks with more trees showed a boost in heart and metabolic health equivalent to what one would experience from a $20,000 gain in income. Lower mortality and fewer stress hormones circulating in the blood have also been connected to living close to green space.

Are you convinced?

Go to a park or your backyard and walk on the earth with bare feet: It’s called grounding and sounds like woo. But, the way I approach wild living is if it helps us feel more connected and it’s not harmful, then it works.  We know the surface of the earth is electrically conducive, and that it gives us a neutral electric charge, so there is no clear evidence that walking barefoot will change the physiology of our body. In saying that, there are subjective reports that walking barefoot enhances health and provides feelings of well-being, with many global cultures singing its praises. There are also suggestions that direct skin contact with the earth reduces pain and inflammation, as well as improves sleep.

I had a pet pig named Wilma not that long ago, and I would watch her play. I noticed that she would roll in the dirt, seemingly get an energy surge and go galloping around the yard. It’s an under researched topic and science behind the health benefits is shaky to say the least. However, it is a practice that makes us slow down and focus on the earth beneath our feet. It evokes a feeling of gratitude, and gratitude imparts good health and wellbeing.

It brings us back to connection with our environment and helps heal our mind.

Next let’s explore the ways we can connect with ourselves. Click on the button below.

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