Nourished Magazine :: Wisdom to thrive by

Here it is - the greatest beauty secret of all time. I am not kidding. It is better than any expensive skin treatment, any wrinkle-filling cream or health-driven diet (although the diet wouldn’t hurt). And it is so simple, right under our noses or at the end of them anyway. Not only will it lead to a glowing new you on the outside but this magic cure-all is the world’s best blues beater, stress reliever and comfort provider. What is this magic elixir? Nature is what I am talking about, the wonderful natural world around us that we are just too busy to notice any more. Most of us, in our frenzied lives of multitasking and super-momming have lost touch with the very thing which, since the beginning of time, has given us our foundation. Ask Gone with the Wind’s Scarlett O’Hara about the good old earth of Tara. It is little wonder that as we have moved to a life behind a computer screen surrounded by fluorescent lighting that the need for Prozac has sky -rocketed and our health and well-being have gone down the tubes. But the fabulous news is that the help we need surrounds us and is free to boot. It is the deal of a lifetime. Mother Nature has not abandoned us but is all around trying to get our attention once again. She is found in the chirping birds that we silence with a slammed window or brilliant sunset that we are too busy to notice. All that’s needed is a simple change in perspective, to get back to our childhood, nature-loving ways, to get outdoors when we can, to reignite our senses and appreciate the connection we all hold with the planet.

Too good to be true? Not buying it? Well, give me one minute a day for the next week and I will prove it to you.

Seven Steps to the New You

(can be done in any order)

1. GET OUTSIDE: Grab a sandwich at lunch and eat alfresco. Park on the street instead of in the underground garage or at the far end of the parking lot and walk the extra steps enjoying the fresh air. Do anything you can think of today to increase your exposure to the elements by one minute or even better, several. And while you are out there, concentrate on your senses: listen for the natural sounds, look for something growing, feel the breeze on your face and see how it makes you feel.
2. LISTEN TO THE BIRDS: As your eyes drift open this morning, listen. Whether living in the heart of a big city or out on the range, I can bet you that you will hear them. If you are walking to the subway or out for a morning jog, instead of focusing on the day’s trials, let the avian choir lift your spirits. It is hard to be sad with them around.
3. GAZE AT THE EVENING SKY: It has been a long day. You are tired and feel overwhelmed. Take a few moments to look up into the evening sky and put things into perspective. To be given such a dazzling light show, be it a glorious sunset or the twinkling stars, you will feel Mother Nature’s warm embrace. It helps remind us not to sweat the small stuff.
4. PET A PUPPY: or a kitten or a bunny. Drop by a pet store or your local animal rescue organization and take a few minutes to cuddle their soft fur, smell puppy breath and see them wriggle with joy. You don’t have time? Then at least watch the squirrels frolic or your neighbor’s dog chasing a fallen leaf. What heart is not touched by such gladness?
5. INHALE THE FRAGRANCE OF YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER: Stop in at the local florist for a sniff or better yet, take a few blossoms home. Awaken to all the wonderful memories stirred by the delicate scents, the lilacs of your grandmother’s garden, the roses of romance, the lilies of past springs. It is guaranteed to restore your soul.
6. BITE INTO A JUICY APPLE OR ORANGE: Sure it is messy. That is the idea, to slow down and enjoy the experience. Let your nostrils drink in the fresh aroma. Let your taste buds savor Mother Earth’s bounty. Let the juices dribble down your chin. And when you are washing up afterwards, you can say: “Now that was an apple!”
7. LISTEN TO THE RAIN: or the ocean or a babbling brook. Buy a tape of nature sounds if it is the best you can do. These watery rhythms are the cadence of life. You will find the comfort in these sounds. They will slow you down and bring you peace.

There, it has been a week. So how do you feel? Have you found that the few minutes you consciously spend in the natural world each day provides life changing benefits? I thought so. As the tribulations of life pile on, you have discovered Mother Nature’s restoring tonic – sunlight, wind, stars, animals, rain, flowers. And you thought you were only getting a beauty secret.

About the Author...

Having spent 25 years in the veterinary field, Dr. Jamieson has a keen interest in promoting the contribution animals make to our lives. To this end, she has been published in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover, Dog and Kennel and Lowcountry Dog Magazines, and Veterinary Economics Journal. Her personal reconnection with nature has profoundly improved a once hectic professional life. Dr. Jamieson has recently relocated to Vermont with her precious canine companions, Biscuit and Karma, to pursue her passion as a nature advocate and writer. She pens a monthly newspaper column on environmental issues and has completed two novels on nature related subjects.