I live with a view of salt water and mountains, with forest nearby. These days, I feel anxiety being in a city where everything is straight lines and hard surfaces. I totally accept that it's a thing.
Love this, and I fully believe it applies to nature more broadly too. I'm writing this week about how the ocean has been a big part of my healing. The way we live in urban life is so counter-intuitive. Thanks for voicing this so beautifully 💚
OMG, YES! The best thing we ever did was buy a house next to Mt. Tabor, which is essentially a little forest in the heart of Portland, Oregon. I'm not sure I how I would have gotten through the last decade without my forest. It's a bitch to get to -- about 0.8 miles of uphill city blocks, but as soon as I enter it, I can feel my brain chemistry changing. I run there most mornings, and my partner took control of his PTSD by integrating 3-4 walks there each week into his schedule. He says he actually greets the trees out loud when he enters the forest, which is hilarious because no one would ever peg him as a stereotypical "tree hugger." We walk there as a family, and I can also see my kids' brain chemistry changing. We all get along far better in the forest than in our own home.
Right now, as our city recovers from a snow/wind storm, followed by an ice storm, I'm actually going through forest withdrawal. I need to get back to my trees! I know a whole bunch of them fell over (we're talking HUGE evergreens), and I'm a little nervous about witnessing the devastation. But forest withdrawal is real! I firmly believe life would be easier in the woods. If you ever want to join me in the tiny home community I'm dreaming about building in a forest someday, let me know. 😜
I think we're reaching a time where the effect of nature on our health can no longer be ignored. Simply seeing one tree during my day does a lot for how I feel and how easy it is to carry on the day and it's important to talk about that.
in the woods, my body and mind find stillness in a way that's hard to make space for in the chaos of city living
after a few years of tracking my biometrics, it's clear in the data the weeks I've retreated to the forest as my HR steadily drops and climbs back to normal levels when I find my way back to the hustle and bustle
Yes. I feel this at the ocean too. I think it's partially the lack of things and decision to step away from the noise too, though. We are just with ourselves and the ones we love and Little pleasures, like food and cuddles and books and movies on small screens in the pitch dark and fireflies and night skies and no social media and good talks. At least, that's how I feel. That's why I want to move into a small cabin or beach house. That's why my husband is looking for a job closer to these places and a little further from the city. Also, there's something about the nighttime being dark and speckled with stars and silence rather than city lights and horns. It makes sleep better and the city light special once again.
Absolutely believe in it! I have a little shack in the swamp we are restoring just for the purpose of “getting away” for a reset & thankfully it’s only a mile from my farm. The trees surrounding that shack seem to reach indefinitely toward the sky. Sand pines, magnolias, sweet gums, & water oaks seem to cradle you in the swamp. I’m referring to it as my Sanctuary in the Swamp.
This makes me feel so good about having my 3 and 5 year old sons in a Forest Program rather than a traditional school setting! Also 100% feel the de-stressing effect that occurs when I take my kids on a hike in the forest rather than any other activity. Life is better in the forest for everyone.
I live in a forest that borders a river. A doctor told me that trees and moving water including rain, has a soothing, anti stress effect. I don’t remember the science except something about a change in the ionization of the air. Maybe that’s enough to begin a google search.
I know only that my mind and body are far more settled and calm when at home, rather than in a local city.
I believe it! I've always felt so much calmer in forests and nature ever since I was a kid. I even remember hating cities as a child. Everything about them felt wrong to me and I'd feel so overwhelmed by the way they looked and even how they smelled.
I love that you found mothering easier in nature and away from all the mod cons that have been sold to us as making life easier! I’ve been wondering for a while where this ‘ease’ is😆
When I moved into a static caravan with 800 other holiday homes on 200 acres of land where there are ten lakes the other year, the only way I could describe what has become a dream way of living was as “another layer of healing”💜 I wondered why we aren’t all at it.
Though there are so many polarising views (like you say, it’s not a cure all - though that said, would we need any cures at all if we hadn’t moved so far away from our rhythmic nature and all the seasons?🤔), the thread that comes through to me with all you share so reflectively and encompassing a wide range of views, evidence and research is the need to balance it all out. Surely balance is what’s being demanded of us? The call for?
We are living in times now where modern day living has advanced to the extent it has, we’ve never had such fortune, such abundance, such opportunity. Imagine if we brought all that we already know from the ancient times with what we have now, along in health to feature at the top of the list. What would happen then?
Thanks Rachel, this is a great essay. The research is solid, as is the anecdotal evidence that we need to get outside. Lack of doing so affects all aspects of well-being.
I'm so fortunate to live in one of the Earth's most beautiful places. The locals here never take it for granted, we count our blessings. I know it's not easy for city-dwellers to access nature in the same way but hopefully finding a piece of grass, a tree or a glimpse of sky and moon can uplift them in some way.
Yes. And the great thing is, you don't actually have to believe or know about any buzz words of supposedly what is happening medically that we are trying to invent or discover that humans have already known for basically all of evolutionary life.
I live with a view of salt water and mountains, with forest nearby. These days, I feel anxiety being in a city where everything is straight lines and hard surfaces. I totally accept that it's a thing.
Love this, and I fully believe it applies to nature more broadly too. I'm writing this week about how the ocean has been a big part of my healing. The way we live in urban life is so counter-intuitive. Thanks for voicing this so beautifully 💚
OMG, YES! The best thing we ever did was buy a house next to Mt. Tabor, which is essentially a little forest in the heart of Portland, Oregon. I'm not sure I how I would have gotten through the last decade without my forest. It's a bitch to get to -- about 0.8 miles of uphill city blocks, but as soon as I enter it, I can feel my brain chemistry changing. I run there most mornings, and my partner took control of his PTSD by integrating 3-4 walks there each week into his schedule. He says he actually greets the trees out loud when he enters the forest, which is hilarious because no one would ever peg him as a stereotypical "tree hugger." We walk there as a family, and I can also see my kids' brain chemistry changing. We all get along far better in the forest than in our own home.
Right now, as our city recovers from a snow/wind storm, followed by an ice storm, I'm actually going through forest withdrawal. I need to get back to my trees! I know a whole bunch of them fell over (we're talking HUGE evergreens), and I'm a little nervous about witnessing the devastation. But forest withdrawal is real! I firmly believe life would be easier in the woods. If you ever want to join me in the tiny home community I'm dreaming about building in a forest someday, let me know. 😜
I love that drawing
I think we're reaching a time where the effect of nature on our health can no longer be ignored. Simply seeing one tree during my day does a lot for how I feel and how easy it is to carry on the day and it's important to talk about that.
in the woods, my body and mind find stillness in a way that's hard to make space for in the chaos of city living
after a few years of tracking my biometrics, it's clear in the data the weeks I've retreated to the forest as my HR steadily drops and climbs back to normal levels when I find my way back to the hustle and bustle
Yes. I feel this at the ocean too. I think it's partially the lack of things and decision to step away from the noise too, though. We are just with ourselves and the ones we love and Little pleasures, like food and cuddles and books and movies on small screens in the pitch dark and fireflies and night skies and no social media and good talks. At least, that's how I feel. That's why I want to move into a small cabin or beach house. That's why my husband is looking for a job closer to these places and a little further from the city. Also, there's something about the nighttime being dark and speckled with stars and silence rather than city lights and horns. It makes sleep better and the city light special once again.
Absolutely believe in it! I have a little shack in the swamp we are restoring just for the purpose of “getting away” for a reset & thankfully it’s only a mile from my farm. The trees surrounding that shack seem to reach indefinitely toward the sky. Sand pines, magnolias, sweet gums, & water oaks seem to cradle you in the swamp. I’m referring to it as my Sanctuary in the Swamp.
This makes me feel so good about having my 3 and 5 year old sons in a Forest Program rather than a traditional school setting! Also 100% feel the de-stressing effect that occurs when I take my kids on a hike in the forest rather than any other activity. Life is better in the forest for everyone.
I live in a forest that borders a river. A doctor told me that trees and moving water including rain, has a soothing, anti stress effect. I don’t remember the science except something about a change in the ionization of the air. Maybe that’s enough to begin a google search.
I know only that my mind and body are far more settled and calm when at home, rather than in a local city.
I believe it! I've always felt so much calmer in forests and nature ever since I was a kid. I even remember hating cities as a child. Everything about them felt wrong to me and I'd feel so overwhelmed by the way they looked and even how they smelled.
This made me think a few things:
-That drawing is SPECTACULAR. It’s simple and expressive and delicious. Straight up eye candy, I might screenshot it
-Why don’t i spend more time in the forest?!
-Imagine how great life would be if you could just like, live in a cabin with no internet? And just live?
-I hope you’re enjoying your maternity leave! We are excited for your to return in full but we’re all waiting patiently and in no rush at all :)
I always feel better after being outside and even better if I’m surrounded by trees. ❤️
I love that you found mothering easier in nature and away from all the mod cons that have been sold to us as making life easier! I’ve been wondering for a while where this ‘ease’ is😆
When I moved into a static caravan with 800 other holiday homes on 200 acres of land where there are ten lakes the other year, the only way I could describe what has become a dream way of living was as “another layer of healing”💜 I wondered why we aren’t all at it.
Though there are so many polarising views (like you say, it’s not a cure all - though that said, would we need any cures at all if we hadn’t moved so far away from our rhythmic nature and all the seasons?🤔), the thread that comes through to me with all you share so reflectively and encompassing a wide range of views, evidence and research is the need to balance it all out. Surely balance is what’s being demanded of us? The call for?
We are living in times now where modern day living has advanced to the extent it has, we’ve never had such fortune, such abundance, such opportunity. Imagine if we brought all that we already know from the ancient times with what we have now, along in health to feature at the top of the list. What would happen then?
Thanks Rachel, this is a great essay. The research is solid, as is the anecdotal evidence that we need to get outside. Lack of doing so affects all aspects of well-being.
I'm so fortunate to live in one of the Earth's most beautiful places. The locals here never take it for granted, we count our blessings. I know it's not easy for city-dwellers to access nature in the same way but hopefully finding a piece of grass, a tree or a glimpse of sky and moon can uplift them in some way.
Yes. And the great thing is, you don't actually have to believe or know about any buzz words of supposedly what is happening medically that we are trying to invent or discover that humans have already known for basically all of evolutionary life.