On these sunny, warm blue-sky days in the Pacific Northwest, I am basking in the beauty surrounding me, and I am so grateful for nature. Beauty is so important in my life. How about you? How do you feel when you are in a place of beauty outdoors? Does it make your soul peaceful? Take a moment and breathe deeply. Imagine yourself by the ocean, watching and listening to the waves roar, or gently lap against the shore. Imagine walking through the woods, inhaling the fresh scent of pine or cedar, with no pavement beneath your feet, listening to birds or leaves fluttering in the breeze. Remember back to your childhood. Do you remember exploring the woods near your house, or going to the lake in summer time with friends? How often do you take the time to be nurtured by nature?
Have a beautiful day!
Betsy
Have a beautiful day!
Betsy
Protecting Kids from Nature Deficit Disorder
Today’s kids spend less and less time outdoors, and it’s taking a toll on their health and well-being. Research has shown that children do better physically and emotionally when they are in green spaces, benefiting from the positive feelings, stress reduction, and attention restoration nature engenders.
Richard Louv is co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network and author of Last Child in the Woods, The Nature Principle, and, most recently, Vitamin N: 500 Ways to Enrich the Health & Happiness of Your Family & Community. Louv has written eloquently about the importance of nature for children and what they miss by spending too much time indoors. Read what Louv says about what children need to lead healthier and happier lives in a recent article in Greater Good Magazine.