Returning to Nature, Returning to Yourself

Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when you’re able to go outside? The air feels different, there is a stillness that settles over you, and it can almost seem like any problems you may be experiencing fade away.

The same principles applies to vacation(s) - we leave our dwelling space and routines, and we travel away from the stressors of daily life. Vacations are often times centered around nature. We commonly find ourselves resting at a beach, exploring a forest, or in the mountains somewhere. Highly traveled or sought after locations around the world are due to the accessibility and beauty of nature.

With our constant hustle and bustle of daily life, it is easy to get lost in distractions and lose touch of who we are. The constant demands of work, technology, and responsibilities leave us feeling disconnected and unsettled.

Our ancestors understood that they were not separate from their environment, but an integral part of it. They used the rhythms of the seasons, the cycles of the moon, and the patterns of the stars to guide them intuitively. In our current society, we have lost touch with our natural processes guided by nature’s own design.

Since most of us no longer “live” in nature, spending time in nature is imperative for healing and rejuvenating. It offers a moment of reprieve to relax, get quiet, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. Studies have shown that being in nature reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting our overall well-being. As we observe the natural world and all it’s beauty, we remember the interconnectedness of all life. The river flowing through the canyon can teach us persistence: it takes time and constant effort to create something beautiful that never existed there before. The ancient tree can show us our own resilience: we can weather the storms of life and still come out standing.

Returning to nature is, in essence, a return to ourselves. A return to our ancestors. A return to the natural cycles and rhythms of Earth and the cosmos. Nature holds the key to our deepest truths and our most profound peace. As we nurture and embrace our relationship with the natural world, we do the same for our own souls. Let us walk this path with gratitude and reverence, knowing that in nature, we find not only our origin but our ultimate home.

Practical Ways to Reconnect:

• Of course, the most obvious: get outside! However that looks for you, it can be different hour by hour, day by day.

  • Hike in the mountains, picnic in a field, walk around a park, swim in a lake/ocean/river, camp in the woods, rest under a tree/hammock, sit around a fire, go on a bike ride around the block, the list is endless

  • Place your bare feet on the ground, close your eyes, and practice vasovagal breathing (4 counts in, 6 counts out) to fully relax

  • Feel the sun on your skin at least 1x day! If you work in an office, take “lizard breaks” (the 2024 equivalent of a smoking break!) and stand outside to absorb the sun. Get out from the AC and the fluorescent lighting and get a quick tan instead.

  • Sleep with the windows open

  • Stargaze any chance you get

• Practice Mindfulness

  • Pay attention to the tiny details around you - the birds chirping, the leaves rustling, the breeze. Notice the insects or animals around you, living their best life. Focus on tuning out any loud noises and focus on the quietness instead.

  • Let go of any nagging thoughts, any distractions, and fully immerse yourself in this sensory experience

• Garden

  • Plant both indoor & outdoor plants

  • Maybe you choose to start a vegetable garden or grow a flower patch.

  • Tending to the earth is a deeply grounding ritual that connects you to the cycles of growth and offers you a tangible way to nurture life (without too much effort either).

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks” John Muir