NURTURED BY NATURE: Walking and Wonder in the Woods

 This past summer was difficult. As many of you know, my dad passed away in July. Just eight weeks later, my partner’s father also passed. It’s been an emotionally raw time, marked by the intensity of loss and the challenge of supporting ourselves and our families through our grieving processes.

I’m taking this week off for a much-needed pause. I’ll be retreating into nature for some hiking, reading, and resting;  allowing nature to work it quiet magic, providing space to heal and breathe deeply.

How Nature Nurtures
Nature has always been one of my greatest sources of comfort in difficult times. I have a dear friend that I meet with regularly for “forest therapy,” basically we go for a walk and talk through the woods. These walks have provided companionship and profound healing as we puzzle through some of our lives’ more difficult moments together.

There’s a reason many of us turn to nature when we feel stressed or anxious. Being outdoors is both restorative and transformative. Research backs up what we know intuitively: spending time in nature has real, measurable health benefits. It can lower anxiety, muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure. Trees even release phytoncides, essential oils shown to reduce stress and boost the immune system. Nature heals, and asks nothing in return.

Beyond the physical benefits, nature also heals us emotionally and mentally. It offers perspective. Walking in a forest or gazing up at an infinite sky reminds you of your place in the larger web of life. These moments of connection can help us feel grounded and peaceful. 

How Nature Grounds Us
Nature engages the senses, pulling us out of our heads and into the present moment. Mindfully tuning into your senses during a walk transforms it into an awe-filled experience. Try this the next time you’re in nature.  Identify:

• 5 things you can see: a bird, a tree, a leaf, a stone, a cloud
• 4 things you can hear: bird songs, buzzing insects, the crunch of footsteps, rustling leaves
• 3 things you can feel: the sun on your face, the breeze on your skin, the earth underfoot
• 2 things you can smell: pine needles, flowers, or nearby water
• 1 thing you can taste: water, trail mix

As Dr. Kelly McGonigal notes in her book The Joy of Movement, “Within the first 5 minutes of any physical activity in nature, people report major shifts in mood and outlook... both distanced from the problems of everyday life and more connected to life itself.”

How Nature Moves Us
Grief can feel like a heavy, stagnant weight. Movement helps to shift that weight, offering relief and mental clarity. Walking, biking and hiking can provide both stimulation and solace, shifting mental fog and offering clarity.

You don’t have to embark on a grand adventure to feel the benefits – but by all means, DO take a heart-thumping romp through the wild, if that’s what moves you!  Even a simple walk through a tree-lined neighborhood or a park can reconnect you with your body and clear your mind. And, let's face it, a stroll outdoors offers much better scenery than the treadmill.  If you want to connect with life, get outside.   

Exercising outdoors can:

• Expand your perception of time
• Give you perspective on life
• Help you feel more connected to the world around you
• Induce emotions like awe, wonder, and hope
• Calm your mind and reduce anxiety
• Regulate the sleep patterns that grief often disrupts.

The benefits of exercising outdoors come from moving through an environment that naturally calms the body and mind.  So, let nature help you move through stressful times.  

Finding Healing in Open Spaces
Exploring new landscapes or hiking unfamiliar trails is a reminder of life’s beauty, even amidst loss. Spending time outdoors feels like a way to honor my father’s memory. He loved nature, and knowing I’m carrying on something he cherished brings me comfort.

The simple act of being outside—breathing in fresh air, feeling the breeze—can be deeply healing. Nature offers us the space to process grief away from the constant demands of daily life.

Whenever I meet the ocean, feel the warmth of the sun, or walk beneath a canopy of trees, I’m reminded of my connection to the natural world. Nature nourishes and sustains us, providing endless opportunities to reflect on life’s beauty and our place in it. In those moments, I can’t help but feel gratitude for the gift of being alive to experience it all.
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So, I'm heading off to the woods to be nurtured by nature.