Dear Nature

Dear Nature , without you there is no ‘us’!

We have seen many, stressed after the hours of work, going out for a serene walk under the sunlight or moonlight instead of dwelling in the world of social media. Some sit in their gardens to explore what nature has and there are some planning to build a house in the midst of greeneries while some plant greeneries around them. Is it their hobby to do so? Or is it the beauty of nature that is captivating them? Maybe both, but the reality is that nature has this marvelous characteristic of boosting our physical and mental health by making us say goodbye to our stress, anxiety, depression and all kind of negative moods just by its serene unblemished landscape with its intoxicating fragrance, ravishing plants, and intelligible birds and animals.

Nature by Oxford dictionary :

All the plants, animals, and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people.

Gifford, a psychologist stated that people are more adaptive to natural settings than human-made habitats.

Contact with natural light is therapeutic and has immediate positive effects on stress, blood pressure, and immune system.

Strong connections to the environment enhance the person-space idea and increase environmental perception.

Ecotherapy:

Ecotherapy, also known as nature therapy or green therapy, is the applied practice of the emergent field of ecopsychology, which was developed by Theodore Roszoc. It is a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature and it is based on the idea that people are connected to and impacted by the natural environment. This therapy involves people working in nature, such as a conservation project, gardening or farming and

experiencing nature, such as enjoying the views on a walk or cycling through woodland to relieve them from anxiety, and improving their mental health.

In recent studies, the people who are exposed to natural sounds from a fountain and tweeting birds recovered quickly from psychological stress. They showed reduced symptoms of depression, less anger and more positive emotions than those who are exposed to urban areas. Even the glimpse of the natural view would boost our minds.

Nature makes us energetic not only through what we see and feel but also what we smell!

Example: We would have experienced the blissfulness emerging within when inhaling the scent of our favourite flowers and plants. Did you ever wonder what would be the reason behind this? By smelling them, our brain produces a happy hormone, called serotonin, which has a chemical in it called an antidepressant that makes us ecstatic, induces long term positive effects, and stimulates the sense of pride within! Flowers trigger another chemical in our brain called oxytocin, known as “ bonding hormone” which creates a pleasurable feeling of social trust, or it can even be maternal attachment, group solidarity, romantic love etc. It also triggers a neurotransmitter called Dopamine — a chemical, which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward motivated behaviour.

This is exactly why we feel joyous, important, wanted, grateful and loved when we are gifted with flowers. Even they are found to improve our relaxation and sleep. Here are some plants you can grow in your garden:

Lavender: The most ravishing lavender flowers have been an inevitable requirement since ancient times. It’s fragrance, colour, and health benefits made it the perfect plant.

They are used in aromatherapy as it has mind-blowing effects on treating mental health issues like anxiety, insomnia ,depression, and also used in treating cancer. The fragrance from the oils of lavender is believed to promote calmness and wellness.

There are some plants which dampen the sound produced, by providing a calm and peaceful living. Plants like Japanese Peace Lily, Rubber Plant, Weeping Fig are some indoor plants that can be grown inside our houses or workplace which controls harsh sounds more than being an aesthetic value.

The best outdoor plants that can be grown in our backyards include Wester Red Cedar, Aureo Marginata, Green Leylandii.

These plants improve the ambience, act as an air purifier, boost our focus and improvement, thus help in reducing the emerging stress.

Even at times, we feel tranquil when we are under the starry night. The sizzling beauty of stars and the marvelling moon give us the pleasure of being at ease. We often forget ourselves mesmerized by the spectacular view around us. For example: Dancing and getting drenched amidst the tickling showers of rain, makes us forget ourselves in the real happiness unlike sitting under the four walls fazing over the past or future abiding in the array of emotions.

Relationships won’t last longer just by telling ‘ I love You’ but by meaning what it is to actually love. And the same goes with nature and humans as it’s our duty to use nature and its resources in an efficient way and to protect them in every way. In a world where nature stands first and humans next, It is inevitable to build a faithful rapport with nature for the betterment of living. So let’s nurture our nature together, as there can’t be ‘We’ without it!

Dear Nature,

I owe you gazillions,

For all the times you refuel my exhausted soul,

With the sweet tweets of birds

Amidst the burbling brook

to make me whole

I owe you gazillions,

For all the seconds you made me forget the toxics around me,

Just by letting me dwell into your solace

I owe you gazillions,

For all the times your birds sing lullabies

When I’m drowning in loneliness

I owe you gazillions

For all the dusks and dawns,

Stirring my hopefulness that “this too shall pass”

I owe you gazillions,

For making the world,

The perfect concentration for living.

I owe you gazillions, dear!