Nature can put a smile on your face!
“Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Next time you’re feeling down go outside and hug a tree. This might sound like guidance from a hippy, but it’s ultimately good advice. Being in nature, makes us feel better. There is a growing body of evidence that being outside in nature can boost our mood, increase our self-esteem, help with problem solving, focusing, self-discipline, reduce stress and even aggression. There are thousands of scientific studies that show the benefits to specific aliments, such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, heart disease, chronic illnesses, and more.
Perhaps, we’ve lost the desire for the great outdoors because of our infatuation with technology. Moreover, we don’t let our kids play outdoors because of traffic, the fear of strangers and the inability to monitor their whereabouts. The days of roaming the great outdoors all afternoon are long gone. In addition, many younger kids don’t even want to put down the iPads or video games to wander aimlessly on a hiking trail.