hiking to stay grounded

Recently I've turned my attention to several new designs that would speak to my respect for  mother nature and a nod to her importance to the survival of humans. As you can tell from the photo on the right, I am a proud tree hugger. This old girl, a Kapok tree, has seen a lot of life and has some stories to tell. We just need to learn how to listen. 

In developing our new "green" themed designs, we've noticed over the last year or so an influx of data and opinions on the bond that humans have with nature and the health benefits of something as simple as going for a walk in a wooded area. It turns out that there are nuanced benefits for our mental and, as it turns out, our physical health when we reconnect with nature. 

As an avid hiker in the Pisgah forest area of North Carolina and name-any-park in southern Florida, I can attest to what Henry David Thoreau hinted at when he suggested clearing your head by getting lost in nature.

“Begin where you are and such as you are, without aiming mainly to become of more worth, and with kindness aforethought, go about doing good.”
― Henry David Thoreau
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Ecological Applications just published a study that suggests that nature around one's home may help  negative mental health effects, which is pretty important in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study, based on residents of Tokyo, Japan, illustrated that frequent greenspace use and the existence of green window views from the home were associated with increased levels of self-esteem, life satisfaction, and subjective happiness, which in turn lead to decreased levels of depression and loneliness. 

When you speak to any avid hiker or walker, you find that most can't really define the benefits but they know that something is going on. And if they miss their routine or daily hike, they know it.

But here is the really fascinating thing. Yes, research implies that their are benefits that are basically these gray little blobs that can't be quantified - yes, I feel better, but I can't tell you why I just do.

Hugging an old girl Kapok Tree!

It turns out that there is something going on that we can measure. As I suggested earlier, it turns out there is something else going on. It's not just mentally that it is beneficial to get out and get some exercise and breath fresh air. There is a physical, measurable component to what trees and plants do for humans and it is interconnected.

Because the discussion is fairly in depth, we're going to break this up over two or three posts. Our next post, we'll discuss this chemical component and learn more about the importance of terpenes.

Until then, get out and go for a hike and appreciate the natural beauty of our world and let it help heal you.

One of my favorite hiking spots: The Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina