Caught in a Rainstorm

The weekend had been particularly busy for the kids with learn to skate, soccer practice, and birthday parties. We became so busy rushing from activity to activity at a dizzying pace. I just couldn’t get around to keeping a good routine of movement or mediation. By Sunday night I was feeling charged, reactive, and snappy. Sleep was challenging again for 2 nights in a row, and I was beyond exhausted. It was 4:30am on Monday and I was wide awake noticing dawn starting to make an appearance. Since the kids always seem to sleep in on Mondays I decided to put on my sneakers and go outside for a run.  

On the best of days I would say my running is closer to a tourist jog looking for any new flowers in bloom. This morning though I wanted nothing to do with sight-seeing. I moved quickly and quietly through the path leading towards the first climb to the Arboretum. Fortunately for me I was so focused I did not feel any discomfort climbing a hill that usually requires me to pause and walk. Instead of taking my normal running path, I went a different way and was suddenly hit with the sound of all kinds of birds calling to each other starting their day. It stopped me in my tracks, and I paused my workout tracker to listen. I closed my eyes, and this peaceful wind just rushed over my face. The leaves on the trees above me rustled gently with a quiet knowing. I took a deep breath and found myself able to smell the charge in the air had changed. It was slightly cooler, and heavier than before. I could sense rain coming.  

Instead of making my way back immediately, I continued on the path. I found new terrain that eventually took me to where I usually sit and meditate for a few minutes under this majestic pine tree. After sitting for sometime listening again to the sounds of the morning, and smelling rain I could feel my whole body feeling 90% better than when I was in bed. On my way down the hill, I started to think about how amazing nature has this ability to immediately calm our central nervous system. There are countless studies that have linked time spent in nature to decreases in blood pressure, blood sugars, stress hormones, anxiety, depression, and improvements in immune system functioning. I’m sure the list is even deeper if this can happen every day for people.  I was maybe 25% of my way back home when the sky opened in all its glory. The rain came down in sheets, but there was no wind. I found myself laughing, smiling, and with an extra hop in each step as I made my way back home. Another fellow runner was out there, and we both waved to each other with big smiles. We knew the secret that nature was telling us. Come outside and play, I will always heal you.  

Mental health and stress reduction: Hartig, T., van den Berg, A. E., Hagerhall, C. M., & Hållsten, S. T. (2011). Health benefits of nature experience: Psychological, social and cultural processes. In K. Nilsson et al. (Eds.), Forests, trees and human health (pp. 127–168). Springer.

Cognitive function: Berman, M. G., Kross, E., Krpan, K. M., Askren, M. K., Burson, A., Deldin, P. J., Kaplan, S., Sherdell, L., Gotlib, I. H., & Jonides, J. (2012). Interacting with nature improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 140(3), 300–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.03.011 

Physical health and mortality: Rojas-Rueda, D., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Gascon, M., & Dadvand, P. (2019). Green spaces and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. The Lancet Planetary Health, 3(7), e329-e339. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30114-1 

Immune system and stress physiology: Li, Q., Morimoto, K., Nakadai, A., Inagaki, H., Katsumata, M., Shimizu, T., Hirata, Y., Hirata, K., Suzuki, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2007). Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 20(2), 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/039463200702000201