Monday, February 20, 2017

Gratitude Monday- My Forest Bath Edition

On Saturday I got to spend more than an hour out in the woods and for it I am grateful.
It's something I'd needed to do for a while. I need to be around trees and walk through the quiet forest and just be.
Mike was busy collecting wood for a later carving project and this left me to my own devices.
This is best.
I wandered. I leaned against spruces and poplars and then found a magnificent spruce who welcomed me to sit and rest my back against it.  Eventually I sprawled out underneath it enjoying the soothing energy of the trees and the ground and feeling the sun and wind on my face.
This is what the Japanese call Shinrin-Yoku and they are right.
I have always done this. Our farm was surrounded by a mixed wood forest and I spent as much time in it as I could.
My time Saturday was wonderful, almost like being a kid again. I am very grateful to the forest for soothing me.

The kindly gentletree:

7 comments:

messymimi said...

Even the smallest trees always seem to me to have a stately magnificence about them. There's one across the street that is young and struggling to grow, and i go visit it and talk to it, and it always makes me feel better.

solarity said...

I have been meaning for some time to do a blog post in your honor about my trees here in the city on my not-quite half an acre. They would welcome you, for I am not much of a leaner, more of a hastener through. You're an owl, I'm a deer?
You remind me to make a greater effort to get out to the state park near where I used to live. I need to walk in woods that aren't surrounded by city, though I am grateful for the Nature Preserve less than three miles from me.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Tabor said...

Trees are such wise old souls. The ones in my yard that I see every day have become friends and we share some type of energy. But, I have not sat on the ground against a tree in the sun in a long time.

Anonymous said...

I love the trees too. Really looking forward to spring and carpets of trilliums under them.

Leah J. Utas said...

I think it appreciates your taking the time to speak to it, Messymimi.

I expect your trees are doing you a great world of good, Mary Anne. I do recommended leaning against one when you have a chance. I'd love to meet them one day.

Tabor, please find the time to do that. You will not regret the time spent.

Kimberley, the warmth of spring by a friendly tree is wonderful.

Crabby McSlacker said...

YES.

I'd never heard of shinrin yoku but what a great concept! I've always found forest baths to be quite therapuetic. (Also seashore baths, whether there is any actual immersion or not).

So glad you got a chance to soak!

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks.
Seashore baths are great, too, Crabby, but I'll take the forest first.