 A wild dolphin swims beside me. The unrelenting grief that felt like someone ripped my heart out not only instantly disappears, but it is replaced by a euphoria that I have never experienced before.
His eye looks into mine as he swims past me, tilted to one side. He circles, and on his second pass, Winston, a male captive beluga whale, tilts his entire body and flashes me a huge erection! Molly, a wild raccoon my mother named and fed dinner scraps to every night when we were kids, allowed her kits to venture down the hill to meet us. My siblings and I sit on the bottom stair and hand-feed the youngins as Molly watches them from the top of the hill. When she decides they have had enough, at least that is how we interpret it, Molly screeches repeatedly, and her kids scurry up the hill to her side. Experiences like this are hard to describe. The relationships and feelings accompanying these non-human encounters are not easy to translate into words that capture the breath, emotions, and energy transference. So, when I find humans who have not only had similar experiences but can put words to describe what contact with non-humans felt to them, I am elated! Someone else gets it! Legendary podcaster and content creator Tim Ferris hosted Craig Foster, most known for his film My Octopus Teacher, for a recent deep discussion on his experiences and relationships with nature. Ferris, known for doing deep diligence information gathering on the guests he thoughtfully hosts, presented Foster with a series of questions that led to an intriguing conversation. Without giving away all of the insightful knowledge that comes with spending significant time in the wild, a few highlights resonated with me as a nature lover myself. Foster vulnerably shares how his intimate relationship with the natural world has dramatically benefitted his mental and emotional health. Nature connection is supported by science to help humans relieve stress, improve sleep, and improve our creativity, to name a few documented benefits. Foster’s hypothesis that nature abundant in biodiversity allows the greatest neuroregulation in our bodies, which can last for months after exposure, because intuitively, we feel safe and have access to our most primal needs is interesting. Throughout the conversation, Foster described a feeling of ‘oneness’ with the natural world—being with nature rather than being in nature. He goes so far as to say that cultivating an intimate relationship with the natural world decreases our need to be with other people. It is socially and emotionally satisfying. Something I have blogged about in the past, describing nature as an unconditional friend. Always available, always able to hold the sacred space and hear our thoughts, and a place to play. The two explore other delights in the great outdoors, such as wilderness rapture, a sense of extraordinary joy that comes from being deeply embedded in the natural world, and song-catching. Of course, no discussion about nature these days can be had without the topic of climate change and our impact on our environment. Like many other nature connection champions, Foster offers encouragement and ways for us to deepen our knowing of nature and how this healthy, reverent relationship can help us enhance our environment and save ourselves. Acknowledgment is also often given to the extraordinary ways Indigenous people co-exist with nature throughout the interview. The podcast piqued my curiosity enough that I pre-ordered Foster’s new book, Amphibious Soul: Finding the Wild in a Tame World. You can listen to (or watch) the discussion on Tim Ferris’s podcast here: https://youtu.be/_tBrxckIwJw?si=ehwl_1nw2yHh2IGD Have you had an extraordinary encounter in the natural world? Please share it in the comments below. Interested in deepening your relationship with nature? Download: Get In Step With Nature: The How and Why Walking With Nature Enhances Our Holistic Health and the Health of Our Planet.
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 What is your Superpower? A question often asked in job interviews.
This question got me thinking: What is a nurse’s superpower? We are often typecast as Superheroes or, my least favorite, angels. How do we define ourselves? While I certainly cannot speak for our entire profession, after a long contemplation period on this question, this is what I came up with as a superpower nurses possess. What is a nurse's Superpower, you ask? While I cannot speak for our entire profession, this is what I came up with after a period of contemplation: A nurse’s superpower is the ability to hold sacred space while simultaneously blending the knowledge we have attained, being present with a patient or community, and allowing the divine to work through us to heal. Before I dive deeper to explain, let me explain the difference between healing and curing. Curing is the elimination of the signs and symptoms of disease. Healing goes deeper, more complete, and may or may not include curing. Healing, as defined by the American Holistic Nurses Association is: “the return of the integrity and wholeness of the natural state of an individual; the emergence of right relationship at, between, and among all levels of the human being; the process of bringing together parts of one’s self (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, relational) at deeper levels of inner knowing, leading to an integration and balance, with each part of having equal importance and value.” (B.M. Dossey, Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice, 5th Ed., ed. B. M. Dossey and L. Keegan (Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers), 2009, p. 721. As nurses, we can stand and be present with intense suffering or lost souls and guide them to the light. Guide them to information that they can use to help heal themselves. We provide people with hands-on care, such as wound dressing changes, suctioning sputum from clogged lungs, or applying a colostomy pouch to prevent stool from running down their abdomen, thus allowing them to heal and have optimal functioning. We are the people at your child’s school ready to tend to their needs, whether as simple as applying a Band-Aid or administering life-saving medications. We are present in Emergency Rooms, Urgent Care Clinics, and On the Streets, offering healthcare to the houseless. We serve in Congress to ensure policies are in place to enable us to live a healthy lifestyle. We are everywhere living beings are, including forests and wild waters. Through the divine, we provide relief from suffering, making the hard times of life a little more bearable. We are astutely aware of the needs that need to be in place to prevent disease and advocate fiercely for these. When people near the end of their lifecycle, we are there helping them and their loved ones through the transference to the other side. The ability to do all this must be cultivated, just as it takes time for a tree to grow sturdy and have strong roots. Thus, seasoned, experienced nurses are essential in this time of chaos and transition. At the same time, we wholeheartedly welcome the many new, fresh perspectives new nurses bring and their eagerness to help improve lives. Not everyone can be a nurse. We invite you to join us if you see yourself having compassion, courage, and intelligence. If, however, you are one of the many who say, “I could never be a nurse”, we understand that, and we hope you apply your unique gifts in a way that satisfies you and contributes to making life on earth a wonderful experience.  Revere: (verb) feel deep respect or admiration for (something) People pulling bear cubs out of a tree to take a selfie, resulting in one of the cubs being abandoned to fend for itself. Grown men dislodging ancient rock formations in a National Recreation Area. These were just two scenarios that made national headlines just days before Earth Day, 2024. A few weeks ago, millions of Federal Tax dollars were spent to “renourish” one of the popular beaches in North Carolina. Just days later, the sand that was excavated from the ocean floor and piled up on the beach was being swept back into the ocean. Dolphins who frolicked and swam in masses were nowhere to be found. While many people will celebrate Earth Day this year by planting a tree, picking up litter, or some other activity aimed at benefiting the planet, do we need to do more, and go deeper? In her book, Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World, Karen Armstrong explores how we have “ransacked nature, treating it as a mere resource, because over the last 500 years we have cultivated a worldview that is very different from that of our forebears.” Armstrong, a recognized religious historian, describes how modern-day religion has created a rift between humans and nature. She also details the role spirituality plays in creating a reverent relationship with our natural world and specific practices that can help us restore our bond. So maybe this Earth Day, we take time to pause and examine our behavior and thoughts about the natural world we share. Maybe we consider treating the plants, trees, and waterways near us as we would a dear friend. A friend we enjoy being with, a friend we support and cherish. Ready to reconnect with Mother Nature on a deeper level? Download Get In Step With Nature now to learn how a simple daily walking practice can restore and strengthen our bond with the natural world. Free for kindleunlimited subscribers!  Photo Credit: ©Abed Ismail "Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world." -Dacher Keltner, Awe: The Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life Less than ten days ago on Easter Sunday, thousands gathered along the miles-long Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina to witness the breathtaking sunrise. Today, something very similar is happening as towns along the path of the solar eclipse prepare for crowds eager to witness the rare spectacle of the moon covering the sun in broad daylight. Spiritual leaders suggest that this unique event presents an opportunity for personal growth, as the veil between worlds opens, allowing us to release what no longer serves us and manifest our desires.  Photo Credit: © Susan Allison-Dean During the pandemic, our usual activities like concerts, shopping, and going to school or work were severely restricted. The confinement and fear of indoor spaces triggered a survival response within many of us, known as biophilia-a desire to commune with nature.
As pandemic restrictions eased, people flocked to parks - local, state, and national. By 10 am, parks were already declaring themselves "Full" or "At Capacity" on social media. Yellowstone reported soaring attendance up by 30 percent. Could the solace people found in Mother Nature during difficult times be fueling the increasing desire to immerse ourselves in the natural world? Do these remarkable events—stunning sunrises, rare cosmic phenomena, and vibrant spring blooms—have a profound impact on our minds, bodies, and souls? The science says yes. We think so too. Share your thoughts on how these recent celestial events are impacting you in the comments below. We would love to read them! Dr. Donna Gaffney is a psychotherapist, author, and nurse researcher focused on mental health. Her latest book, "Courageous Well-Being for Nurses: Strategies for Renewal" (Johns Hopkins Press), is packed with tips to boost your well-being—even if you're not a nurse. Susan Allison-Dean is a Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse, Writer and Cetacean advocate. Want to develop a deeper connection with nature? Check out her offerings at www.TheNatureNurse.com |
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