Nature Is The Best Medicine

The reason we suffer from our emotion is not because of the emotion itself, but because of our resistance to that particular emotion. - Teal Swan

This picture perfectly illustrates how I am feeling right now. I guess I would describe it as "a little under the weather." Physically, all is good, but that is always the easiest of the pieces of a human to remedy. A little rest, some warm tea, and medicine when needed is usually all it takes to right an ailing body. It is the emotional, mental, and spiritual pieces that are a little more difficult to repair. That is why going outside helps me.

I am no different than most of my contemporaries, working hard to make a living, challenged by the rigors of raising kids, taking stock of where I have been and where I still want to go in what will probably be the final chapters of my time here. It is some pretty heavy stuff to think about, so most of the time, we tend to push aside thinking about any of it and just put our heads down to get through each day, each week, each year. Sometimes, it is that act of self-reflection that brings on the emotional and spiritual pain, so we just don't think about it at all. Me? I am a thinker, and I want to think about all of it, even the scary stuff. The trick is not to get buried under the weight of all of it. A trick I have not completely mastered yet, by the way.

When I am outdoors and outside of the box of any buildings, there are no material distractions to clutter those heavy thoughts. Don't get me wrong, 'heavy thinking' is a small part of the time I spend in nature. There is so much more joy and simplicity to getting outside than figuring out my place in the universe. But, if the non-physical pieces of me are hurting, there is no better place to find perspective than on a walk or a run, focusing only on my surroundings and on understanding what hurts and what can be done about it. Sometimes, nothing can be done about it, but most of the time, honest reflection, prioritizing, and a little bit of creativity offer me the chance to fix the problem, not just numb the symptoms until later. It's almost never easy, and sometimes it makes the hurt worse for a while, but it's worth it. I will always choose to feel, good or bad, over numbness. It is the only authentic way I can imagine to live.

Does getting outdoors fix everything right away? Nope. Sometimes it takes many excursions, on different days, in varying stages of emotional entanglement, but, without a doubt, it helps. It teaches flexibility - don't forget the rain boots or the gloves, acceptance - the many places that we are just not meant to go (the view from the top of that tree is only for birds, my friend), and appreciation - it is an honor just to be able to get outside and see all of that beauty. My prescription for this melancholy Sunday morning is a long run and some loud music in my ears. It might not take me out from under the weather right away, but it will definitely lighten those heavy thoughts for a little while. Whatever ails you, just get outside.