SheSue Experience

In an experiment at a small hospital, patients were in rooms with a view of leafy trees or a room facing a brick wall. Not surprisingly, the patients with the leafy tree view healed faster. Another study put office workers in a room and gave them pop quiz type tasks. One group of workers were in a windowless room, one group were in a room with a TV showing nature scenes and another group were in a room with a window facing a natural greenspace. The last group’s heart rates recovered faster than either of the first two. Proving that the real thing is what provides the stress relief.

Scientists believe that getting people out into nature will not only repair their sense of well being, it will also help propel people into taking better care of the planet. For most, we don’t recognize what’s happening to the planet. We don’t recognize that we are adapting to a world with a diminishing natural setting. Plant and animal species are dying off. Pollution and artificial light keep us from seeing the stars at night. And lets not even get into the noise. Even out hiking on trails in the woods, I can hear the cars and planes overhead. All I really want to hear is the birds singing and the water rushing over rocks.

A young man once told me that his therapist prescribed walking to help him out of his depression. Think about it. For every step you take, you have to pick yourself up again. Try it out. And listen for the symphony of nature. I promise it will bring a smile to your face.