During the pandemic, when all my access to theatres and restaurants and museums and travel and so on was shut down, I rechanneled that energy into exploring all the arboretums, gardens, nature preserves, historic houses that at least had nice grounds open, etc within a couple hour drive of me. It was glorious! Being around bright natural colors, in sunlight, etc had a huge positive effect on me in that time and I think there have been studies of people in low income housing showing even looking at a small patch of grass for a few minutes a day improves well-being compared to not looking at anything natural. It’s harder for me now that I’m in an urban area and don’t own a car. I go for walks often, but immersion in nature is harder to access and I miss it.
I was fortunate that during the pandemic I lived in a somewhat rural area and so it was fairly easy for me to get outside and walk some trails or get some fresh air. What a trying time that was. I think that people often take the outdoors for granted and don't notice its benefits.
I am sure you are correct about the low income housing data. I have heard similar stories regarding people who work in a building with no windows vs those with a view outside. Huge mental health implications.
Preety I grew up in a very rural area of Massachusetts on the coast. I spent 20 years in the middle of my now 67 years living in Los Angeles. It was a major culture shock and I always missed the ability to immerse myself in nature although there were certainly places to do that in the L.A. area. Walking and admiring the gardens in L.A. always helped.
Thanks for this, Matthew. And such soothing photos by Pamela.
I love the very phrase of "forest bathing"!
Another sign that the screen-time problem is being recognizing: New York City is suing all the major social media companies for "fueling a mental health crisis" among the young.
When I first read about forest bathing a few years ago I thought that is was such an amazing description. But it is so true - a walk in the woods is so powerful to be able to wash us of the detritus of life and make us feel renewed.
I also grew up in the woods and I feel most at home there. For Lent I’ve decided to forest bathe every day. I feel myself settled and calm every time. It’s a gift I want ti give my kids too—because if we don’t know the value of the natural world, how will we save it?
Isabel - I really appreciate you reading and commenting. I have moved so frequently with my career in the Navy that I haven't been able to spend as much time in the woods in adulthood as I did in my childhood and I have missed it greatly. It seems that a short walk in the woods rinses us clean of our worries. It is very settling. I am hoping that my wife and I will find a forever home near some wooded lands after I retire from the Navy this summer. I plan to see if I can find my inner John Muir or Thoreau! All the best.
Your writing is beyond anything I could have written! I don't think I have ever mentioned it, but my thesis for Senior English (52 years ago) was on Thoreau. I don't remember the exact title, but your article makes me want to go back and read his book. Your writings bring so much joy to me! Mom
I also spent too much of my life pursuing my career in psychology and ignoring the beauty and miracle of nature. Thank you so much for your contributions
This came at the perfect time, Matthew, as I just returned from a regular weekend meander in my local woodland 😀 It always lifts my mood, regardless of the weather or time of year. Thank you for your lovely post (and Pamela's beautiful photography!) 😍
Kate - glad to hear you are able to get outdoors and enjoy that time. It really is a blessing. I have a long walk planned with my dog this morning even though it is a chilly 39* F. I will bundle up appropriately.
Thank you Kate! I am hoping to meander through my local woodland this coming week. Winter is not my favorite time for walking in the woods, but warmer temps are heading my way.
Good article but I'd quibble that "health professionals" are not discussing these improvements. They're only discussing whether we need to muzzle and lucite the world again NOW or muzzle and lucite the world again RIGHT THIS INSTANT.
Yes to all of this! When I'm feeling overwrought, I tell my husband I need a forest dosage, and we go out on a hike somewhere. It shouldn't be surprising how healing being in nature is, but somehow in the midst of life's busyness, such a thing is easily forgotten.
Many thanks to you Matthew for inviting me to collaborate with you on this wonderful post.
As a photographer, my work primarily is in nature spaces and places. I am so happy that my photos fit so well into this piece. I love the reading list you supplied here. I have many of those books in my library as well.
It went together quite nicely indeed. I was interested to see your placement of the photos in the essay. Quite brilliant the way you wove them in! If you ever want to collaborate again, I'd love to!
A five minute break to look up in the sky and marvel at a cloud, or to listen for bird song, or to stop and smell the roses makes all the difference in a day when the hours seem few.
Lovely collaboration. Pamela's photographs capture some of that natural beauty I always but too rarely want to retreat into -- retreating into books and nature, as you introduce the topic, a joint, nurturing enterprise for many for probably as long as there have been both.
Thank you for the kind words. I was very pleased that Pamela was interested in collaborating. I thought her photos paired well with the message I was trying to convey. My idyllic environment would be sitting under a big tree with a book!
Being the New York City boy I am, that was for me in my young manhood often a tree in Central Park or more often still a bench under a tree in Riverside Park gazing from the heights at the Hudson River. Lots of long winding thoughts and imaginings . . .
Great piece Matthew, and Pam your photos always manage to lift my spirits. While we're aware that there is definitely a problem, I still don't think we're at that place where we fully realize what kind of long-lasting effects the whole smartphone/always connected life will have on our psychology. These things take decades upon decades to fully come to light. I can only imagine it will eventually mirror the trajectory of smoking, which was gradually discovered as truly hazardous to our health literal lifetimes down the road, and only then were real measures put in place to discourage it.
But like you mention, we're fully aware of the fact that something isn't right and feel the need to pull ourselves back into a more natural state. Nature itself is the natural antithesis and I can't tell you how much more grounded and alive I feel after a hike through the mountains or near the beach. In these times, nature really is the best medicine.
Hey Dan, thanks for reading and for your insightful comment. I agree that we are probably a long way off from understanding the full ramifications but it is pretty easy to "feel" the disconnect and know something is off. That time outdoors is priceless.
Still playing catch up on all I recently missed and spotted this; what a great collaboration, really enjoyed it, thank you (both). I think this is such a great example of the good which can be done here!
Thanks Alexander! It was a lot of fun collaborating with Pamela on this piece. I agree, there is so much potential for this space and working together as creatives.
During the pandemic, when all my access to theatres and restaurants and museums and travel and so on was shut down, I rechanneled that energy into exploring all the arboretums, gardens, nature preserves, historic houses that at least had nice grounds open, etc within a couple hour drive of me. It was glorious! Being around bright natural colors, in sunlight, etc had a huge positive effect on me in that time and I think there have been studies of people in low income housing showing even looking at a small patch of grass for a few minutes a day improves well-being compared to not looking at anything natural. It’s harder for me now that I’m in an urban area and don’t own a car. I go for walks often, but immersion in nature is harder to access and I miss it.
I was fortunate that during the pandemic I lived in a somewhat rural area and so it was fairly easy for me to get outside and walk some trails or get some fresh air. What a trying time that was. I think that people often take the outdoors for granted and don't notice its benefits.
I am sure you are correct about the low income housing data. I have heard similar stories regarding people who work in a building with no windows vs those with a view outside. Huge mental health implications.
Preety I grew up in a very rural area of Massachusetts on the coast. I spent 20 years in the middle of my now 67 years living in Los Angeles. It was a major culture shock and I always missed the ability to immerse myself in nature although there were certainly places to do that in the L.A. area. Walking and admiring the gardens in L.A. always helped.
Same…how I miss those shut-downs days
Thanks for this, Matthew. And such soothing photos by Pamela.
I love the very phrase of "forest bathing"!
Another sign that the screen-time problem is being recognizing: New York City is suing all the major social media companies for "fueling a mental health crisis" among the young.
When I first read about forest bathing a few years ago I thought that is was such an amazing description. But it is so true - a walk in the woods is so powerful to be able to wash us of the detritus of life and make us feel renewed.
Yes indeed, Matthew 🙂
Thank you Dan!
I also grew up in the woods and I feel most at home there. For Lent I’ve decided to forest bathe every day. I feel myself settled and calm every time. It’s a gift I want ti give my kids too—because if we don’t know the value of the natural world, how will we save it?
Isabel - I really appreciate you reading and commenting. I have moved so frequently with my career in the Navy that I haven't been able to spend as much time in the woods in adulthood as I did in my childhood and I have missed it greatly. It seems that a short walk in the woods rinses us clean of our worries. It is very settling. I am hoping that my wife and I will find a forever home near some wooded lands after I retire from the Navy this summer. I plan to see if I can find my inner John Muir or Thoreau! All the best.
I am all for that! I found you through David Robert's re-stack and I'm so glad I did!!
Your writing is beyond anything I could have written! I don't think I have ever mentioned it, but my thesis for Senior English (52 years ago) was on Thoreau. I don't remember the exact title, but your article makes me want to go back and read his book. Your writings bring so much joy to me! Mom
I wasn't aware about your thesis, that is an interesting coincidence. Appreciate your support Mom.
I also spent too much of my life pursuing my career in psychology and ignoring the beauty and miracle of nature. Thank you so much for your contributions
-- I am enchanted by this essay. Thank you. Xo.
Thanks Thaissa. I am glad that it resonated with you!
This came at the perfect time, Matthew, as I just returned from a regular weekend meander in my local woodland 😀 It always lifts my mood, regardless of the weather or time of year. Thank you for your lovely post (and Pamela's beautiful photography!) 😍
Kate - glad to hear you are able to get outdoors and enjoy that time. It really is a blessing. I have a long walk planned with my dog this morning even though it is a chilly 39* F. I will bundle up appropriately.
Thank you Kate! I am hoping to meander through my local woodland this coming week. Winter is not my favorite time for walking in the woods, but warmer temps are heading my way.
Good article but I'd quibble that "health professionals" are not discussing these improvements. They're only discussing whether we need to muzzle and lucite the world again NOW or muzzle and lucite the world again RIGHT THIS INSTANT.
Yes to all of this! When I'm feeling overwrought, I tell my husband I need a forest dosage, and we go out on a hike somewhere. It shouldn't be surprising how healing being in nature is, but somehow in the midst of life's busyness, such a thing is easily forgotten.
Lovely post, Matthew, and photos by Pamela.
It is very easy to get distracted and forget how impactful a little time outdoors can be!
Many thanks to you Matthew for inviting me to collaborate with you on this wonderful post.
As a photographer, my work primarily is in nature spaces and places. I am so happy that my photos fit so well into this piece. I love the reading list you supplied here. I have many of those books in my library as well.
Thanks for being willing! Very happy with how everything came together.
It went together quite nicely indeed. I was interested to see your placement of the photos in the essay. Quite brilliant the way you wove them in! If you ever want to collaborate again, I'd love to!
Thank you for a wonderful and thought-provoking collaboration, Matthew and Pamela. Our days are so full. Our hours seem so few.
Thanks Rod - we do need to take advantage of the time we have.
A five minute break to look up in the sky and marvel at a cloud, or to listen for bird song, or to stop and smell the roses makes all the difference in a day when the hours seem few.
Lovely collaboration. Pamela's photographs capture some of that natural beauty I always but too rarely want to retreat into -- retreating into books and nature, as you introduce the topic, a joint, nurturing enterprise for many for probably as long as there have been both.
Thank you Jay! Yes, books and nature are both quite nurturing. And so too, it seems is this lovely space where we all congregate... Substack.
Thank you for the kind words. I was very pleased that Pamela was interested in collaborating. I thought her photos paired well with the message I was trying to convey. My idyllic environment would be sitting under a big tree with a book!
Being the New York City boy I am, that was for me in my young manhood often a tree in Central Park or more often still a bench under a tree in Riverside Park gazing from the heights at the Hudson River. Lots of long winding thoughts and imaginings . . .
Great piece Matthew, and Pam your photos always manage to lift my spirits. While we're aware that there is definitely a problem, I still don't think we're at that place where we fully realize what kind of long-lasting effects the whole smartphone/always connected life will have on our psychology. These things take decades upon decades to fully come to light. I can only imagine it will eventually mirror the trajectory of smoking, which was gradually discovered as truly hazardous to our health literal lifetimes down the road, and only then were real measures put in place to discourage it.
But like you mention, we're fully aware of the fact that something isn't right and feel the need to pull ourselves back into a more natural state. Nature itself is the natural antithesis and I can't tell you how much more grounded and alive I feel after a hike through the mountains or near the beach. In these times, nature really is the best medicine.
Hey Dan, thanks for reading and for your insightful comment. I agree that we are probably a long way off from understanding the full ramifications but it is pretty easy to "feel" the disconnect and know something is off. That time outdoors is priceless.
I agree with you on each of your observations and I know I have to return to the beauty of nature
Still playing catch up on all I recently missed and spotted this; what a great collaboration, really enjoyed it, thank you (both). I think this is such a great example of the good which can be done here!
Thanks Alexander! It was a lot of fun collaborating with Pamela on this piece. I agree, there is so much potential for this space and working together as creatives.
I very much agree!