“When societies forget to tend the trees, they start to remove forests, and inevitably deserts appear, springs run dry, weather patterns change. These are the times we are in. Somehow, as a species, most of us no longer know trees as our relations and view them instead as crops to harvest in service of purely human aims. This is one of the reasons why forest bathing is important for our times. The trees need us now.” -M. Amos Clifford
Holy Toledo Guys! It’s been a minute! We have been enjoying every minute of our summer in Colorado. What a serious change it’s been from Florida summers. We have been able to get outside almost every day despite it being 90+ degrees out. Sprinkled in those hot summer days are beautiful days in the 70s. The windows have been able to open all day which allows the nicest little breeze to blow through the house. We’ve also been sleeping with the windows open. Something I haven’t done in almost 10 years and man oh man, what a game changer when it comes to sleep. Another indicator that life is best spent as close to nature as possible.
Speaking of nature, I’ve really just been pulled closer and closer to exploring the ways nature can be healing. I’ve been trying to get the family out almost every day to try and do something outside. By outside, I don’t mean go play on a field sprayed with pesticides or a plastic playground roasting in the sun. Although they are okay in moderation, that’s not where I’d like to go barefoot or breathe in “fresh air”. I know some of you will roll your eyes at that comment but let’s be real. Playgrounds used to be built out of wood and surrounded by actual wood chips. Trust me, I have a fear of splinters from those playgrounds. Now they’re built of mostly plastic (and who knows what else) and without shade, they just roast in the sun emitting who knows what. And fields used to just be grass without being sprayed for color or growth. It’s naive to think these modern changes won’t have an impact on your or your child’s health long term.
I’ve been enjoying taking the kids out to trails and I’ve been on the hunt for some good forested ones. Yesterday, we found a phenomenal forest trail that allowed the kids to run and play while we could keep a close eye on them but also enjoy just walking. Taking young kids hiking can be tricky and far from relaxing until you get the hang of it. Going on short little hikes has always been beneficial for my mental state but I couldn’t figure out why. I’m starting to learn and take notice of the importance of nature and spirituality and how they go hand in hand. Thanks to a fellow Substacker, (Wild Heart Nature Connection) I started reading, “Your Guide to Forest Bathing” by M. Amos Clifford.
“My belief is that the desire to be in forests and seek solace and healing among the trees is deeply encoded in the human psyche; it’s in our DNA. Our species evolved among the trees and in the savanna environments where forests and grasslands meet. Long ago, our bodies learned to benefit from breaking in the exhalations of the trees, that rich mix of freshly minted oxygen and other aerosols that benefit our moods, our hearts, our mental capacities, our immune systems, and more.” - M. Amos Clifford.
When we took the kids to the forest yesterday, their eyes lit up like they just got to an amusement park. There were previously built teepees on some trees, picnic tables, a dirt trail, plenty of rocks for the kids to add to their collection, and some delicious smelling Ponderosa Pine trees. The Ponderosa Pine trees have a butterscotch or vanilla scent and the kids love running up to them to smell! You can learn a lot from kids and the fact that they got excited to see and be in the forest is a telling sign that humans are innately happier in the forest. Following children and their natural interests will get you back to a baseline of healthy and natural ways to entertain and take care of yourself. Not to mention, getting your children outside is vital to their development and growth.
Think back to your childhood. How often were you outside? Do your children get the same luxury? I can say with certainty my children are not outside as much as I was when I was growing up. Shout out to my 90s babies! I remember walking to my grandparents house, walking to the park, playing in the creek, riding my bike all over town, etc. basically unsupervised other than the occasional check in phone call to my mom. Things are definitely not safe enough for our children to be doing that at a young age like I did. Although beneficial to my development, I find this to be a “know better, do better” kind of moment. Things have very obviously changed when it comes to child safety so what’s there to do? Learn to change and adapt.
Finding ways to get your children outside to explore may require more time than it did for our parents. We may have to get creative and make more of an effort than just opening the front door and letting us out to roam. My oldest loves being outside and loves to go hiking. My 4 year old on the other hand usually requires a bribe. Yesterday I tried to get creative with him and find something that might get him more interested in hiking and being among the trees. I told him that trees give us the air we need to breathe and in return our breath out is what the trees need to breathe. As we walked by hundreds and hundreds of trees, I told him he could say “thank you” to the trees and give them a gentle touch. To be honest, I didn’t think he would care or be interested in doing it at all. To my surprise, the next tree we walked by he gave a shy little smile and said, “thank you tree for my air”. First of all, my nature mama heart nearly exploded. Second, it’s important that children understand the reciprocity of the human/forest relationship. Forests are not merely a human resource nor do they exist just to please or heal us. As M. Amos Clifford stated in the quote above, “our species evolved among the trees”.
There's a lot of thought and planning that goes into mindful parenting. It can be exhausting and overwhelming if you don’t keep it simple. Find the values you want your children to grow up with and put those in the forefront of the way you live your daily lives. For us, we believe nature is important and vital to our survival so we want our children to grow up knowing and respecting the land. That’s why we put nature up there with home school. Make a list of 3 values you want your child growing up with and carrying into the future. Kick it old school and make a web brainstorm of ways you can incorporate those things into activities to teach your children the importance of them. And if you don’t have children, you can do this for yourself. This strategy will help you live a more intentional and mindful life. Steps to get you to the life you WANT to live, not the life you are living on autopilot. Convenience is hard habit to break but when done with mindful intention, you can remind yourself of the reasons why you’re taking a less convenient route and all of the benefits that come with it.
Change can certainly be hard and scary but it’s necessary if you are not enjoying every aspect of your life. I am in no way perfect at living the life I know I could be (hello, anxiety) but I am making changes and tweaks to my routine and consumption to get me to where I want to be. If I can do it, so can you!
Stay mindful, friends!
-AD
The forest sounds fabulous! I've been thinking about what are now called "free-range kids," which is how I grew up (in the 1960s and '70s). From everything I've read, things are not more dangerous now — in fact, crime is down from then. But there's a perception that the world got more dangerous, fueled by media, so kids have less freedom than we did. Kids lose a lot from not growing up that way, being able to play outside freely. I'm glad yours are getting more chances to go outside!
How wonderful 💕