‘ The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
This morning, I ate a late breakfast in the garden. The sun was radiant and the sky a Hockney swimming pool blue. It was chilly, yes, but nothing that a warm jumper and a coat couldn’t deal with.
So I settled myself down with my hot coffee, toast and marmalade and gave myself the task of doing … absolutely nothing. This brief respite from the rain and cold was there to be cherished and savoured. This was a moment for green therapy – the most effective, inexpensive and delightful one available. Forget expensive spa days – just take some time to sit outside.
Being one with Nature
Sitting doing nothing can easily morph into a mini meditation session. One can close one’s eyes and simply listen – to the bird song, the rumble of traffic in the background, even the creak and settling of the house as it basks in the spring sunshine.
Or focus on a flower. The Buddha famously picked a lotus flower (mud and roots and all) and held it up for his disciple’s contemplation. Though most of his followers were not quite sure what to make of it, one, Mahakasyapa, understood and smiled, finding enlightenment in this simple plant. As in all Zen riddles, there is not one correct ‘answer’ to the Buddha flower sermon and perhaps we need not look for one. For me, the flower is a symbol of life – it’s beauty and transience. It gives joy, yet expects nothing in return. It is an example of the rightness of the world.
When Jesus tried to remind his disciples of the uselessness of worry, he also used a flower to explain his thoughts. He said, ‘Consider the lilies of the fields, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin,’ Matt 6:28. In other words, Nature, or God, would provide.
And even if we are not comfortable with a religious approach, we can always take the age -old advice of stopping to smell the flowers. No-one should be in such a rush that they cannot take a moment to hold a scented bloom to their nose and let its perfume calm and restore them.
Spring flowers are especially delightful and my house is filled with hyacinths and paper-whites at the moment, so that even if the day is damp and dreary, I can still imagine that I am in the garden.
Feed the Birds
When I was unwell, I often lay in bed watching the birds swoop and turn like acrobats in the sky. Living near the coast, there are always seagulls to entertain me, but my garden is filled with other birds too, who make regular appearances.
We have Reggie Crow, who is semi tame and knocks on next door’s windows for his daily bread; a solitary magpie; whole clutches of sparrows, tits and little brown jobs; pigeons and doves. Sometimes the cacophony they make can feel a little overwhelming, but they provide the best free cinematic entertainment whether I am stuck inside or outside in the garden with them.
Placing a variety of bird feeders or ensuring that you have plenty berry producing trees will ensure a steady supply of feathered visitors. Watching the birds is somehow much more therapeutic than watching something on a screen – and every bit as enjoyable.
Throughout time, artists, philosophers and poets have written about the healing powers of Nature and it seems we are just catching on.
Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. It may even reduce mortality, according to scientists such as public health researchers Stamatakis and Mitchell.
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing
In addition, it can help reduce pain by distracting us from it. The sheer complexity of natural forms encourages the brain to focus on them rather than our discomfort.
Surprisingly, it has also been shown to help us build a sense of connectedness, not only with the natural world but with each other. Communities that have access to nature tend to have closer social ties and fewer social dysfunctions like crime.
Attention to nature can improve cognitive function and creativity. And one way to ensure you benefit from both is to keep a nature diary. One year, I decided to do just that.
Every day, I walked the dog in the same beautiful park and I set myself the challenge of noting (and writing about) any changes I saw from day to day. Over the course of the year, I was able to trace the incremental changes from one season to the next. Because I had set myself the task of doing this for 365 days, I also looked for details that I would have over-looked on an ordinary walk. Retiring plants came into view; the varieties of lichen on trees grabbed my attention, discovering the various flowers on trees, brought joy. (All trees have flowers – you just have to look for them.) And this attentiveness has remained with me, so that no walk, no matter how short, is without wonder.
Bring the Outside In
The day I started this was brilliant and fine, yet today, as I finish, the wind is howling and the rain battering the window panes. I made a quick dash around the garden between showers, but this is not a day for meandering.
So what should we do if the weather is appalling or we are unable to venture outside? Bring it in. Numerous studies have shown that the benefits of nature can be achieved from something as simple as a pot plant. Even pictures of nature can have a beneficial effect.
So I encourage you to pick some flowers or invest in some plants for those days when the weather or your health is preventing you from enjoying the great outdoors. They are sure to lift your spirits.
And if you are looking for the greatest show on earth – it’s on your doorstep.