Yesterday was a great day for myself and my family. My husband took the day off of work for our anniversary, and we celebrated by getting way from the indoors. My oldest son still had to go to school, but we packed up the two younger kids and headed to our favorite botanical gardens/historical estate.
Fall was in evidence everywhere. From the mums that decorated everything, such as the new electric trains display and the inside of the conservatory, to the pumpkin playground, where the kids could climb over straw bales and use wheelbarrows to cart pumpkins.
As the sky began to darken and we started heading back home in time to meet our son’s bus, my husband remarked how peaceful and calming it all was. I pointed out that we humans were really made to interact and be part of nature, not inside all of the time under artificial florescent lights.
This is so true. Studies have shown that just gazing at nature can reduce our heart rates, remove stress and even boost our mental capacity for solving problems.
While green living often focuses on practices and ways that we can reduce our impact on the earth, and this is good, we should also be aware of how much we need nature on a daily basis. We can’t just recycle everything and stay locked away in our little boxes.
Growing up in the city, I have had to make my piece with nature (with the exception of spiders and mosquitos. I haven’t been able to resolve them much). I’m normally more comfortable indoors than out. But I do recognize the healing power of nature and its ability to boost my inner green.
So make sure that you get regular does of nature any way that you can. Visit a garden or a zoo if you have to. Plant a garden, or even just bring some colorful flowers into your home. Boost your green today.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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