Nature Bathing

Photo by Valera Vulfson

Nature Bathing. It's a thing. Doctors write prescriptions for it now..."must take 3 one hour doses of pure nature 2 times a week". It's legit, we forget how much time we spend away from nature, inside buildings, covered in layers, no sun, no air, no views, no bare feet in the grass, often staring at a screen or working with machines for hours a day. We feel cabin fever, and get depressed and stir crazy and we wonder why. Every time I feel like I need space, I go spend time in nature. A walk outdoors, a romp in the grass, a sit on a rock, a lie on the beach, a run through the woods. I can feel the fresh air in my lungs, I can see the incredible mountains and sunset, my body relaxes, my mind slows down, and all is right in the world again. Mostly I feel connected to something bigger. I am reminded how small I am, how the problems of today will pass by in a flash, the birds will keep chirping, the bugs keep crawling, the trees swaying, and I am just one of the millions of creatures humming on this earth and it's all good. The other day I was lying flat out on the grass in a snow angel type position and a nice man walked up to me and asked if I was "OK." "Never Better!" I replied, "just soaking in the sun". He laughed and I could tell he was tickled my the simpleness of my actions, but it struck me funny that me just chilling in the grass was alarming. I get it, it's rare. Nature Bathing, it grounds us, literally putting our bare feet on the ground is great for our body and our soul, and makes us simply grateful to be alive and to experience it all.