“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”
This quote is by John Burroughs, a naturalist, nature essayist, and conservationist who lived from 1837 to 1921.
With the coming of spring, I think about nature more often because where I live the winters are cold, there is snow and ice, and the trees other than the evergreen trees shed their leaves in the fall. So there is much change when spring arrives. After the cold temperatures and decreased sunlight of winter, spring brings with it milder weather and later sunsets, and the beauty of the green leaves and grass and the early blooming flowers. Various types of birds that migrated south in the fall return, and hearing their song is another special part of spring. I’m thankful that in the urban area where I live there are many trees and grassland areas where I can take in the transformation that happens each spring.
As Burroughs says, being in nature can help to sooth and heal us. Being outside in the fresh air and taking in the beauty around us is a healthy way to spend time, both physically and emotionally. For many of us who stay busy with family, work, and other commitments, we may be limited for the amount of time we can be in nature. But there are ways to observe nature around us every day. Spending only 15 minutes in our yards or a nearby park. Looking at the sky while on a bus. Taking a short walk in the neighborhood where we live and seeing the trees, bushes, and flowers in the yards. There are many ways to be in nature, even for short periods of time.
And when possible, try to be in nature for longer periods, such as by walking along a nature trail or going on a hike. There is a nature trail near where I live that goes around a small lake. When I have time to take that three-mile walk, in addition to enjoying seeing the trees and other vegetation, I often see small animals, such as rabbits, squirrels, and turtles. I also enjoy seeing and hearing the various birds in the trees or flying about.
Burroughs saying that being in nature puts his senses in order makes me think about the peacefulness I experience when in nature. It’s a time to slow down, to take a break from thinking about our obligations. It refreshes and re-energizes us. Being in nature truly is soothing and healing.
