 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!
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 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  The word is out. Walking has so many health benefits that countless people are now incorporating this form of exercise into their day. Now that Spring is in the air in the Northern Hemisphere, we have an opportunity to add some extra pep to our steps with these three tips. One: Learn about the medicinal herbs that are growing along your walking path. For example, just this morning I picked some purple dead nettles which when boiled in water to make tea can have diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial effects. (1) Before harvesting any plants for medicinal use, be sure to consult with a certified Herbalist and your licensed healthcare team to ensure that it is safe for you to use.  Two: Take notice and appreciate the emergence of Spring. We all get hijacked by stress, but taking time to slow down and connect with our natural world has been shown to have significant stress-reducing benefits. (2). If you walk the same path regularly, notice how the tree branches begin with simple buds along their branches. In a day or two those buds may begin to swell. As the temperature warms and daylight extends, a leaf may begin to unfurl before your eyes. Ask yourself, how are you choosing to emerge this Spring season? Can you extend yourself some grace as you notice that the natural environment around you recreates itself slowly, not all at once?  Three: Add an evening walk to your day. A morning walk within an hour of waking has a profound impact on regulating our circadian rhythm which can significantly help us sleep well. (3). As daylight increases, we have the opportunity to add a walk to the end of our day. Not only will we improve our digestion (4), but if we time it right, we may get to experience the awe of a magnificent sunset.  Want to learn more about how walking with Nature can enhance your holistic health? Download Get In Step With Nature now LINK. Free for kindleunlimited users.
 The following is not medical advice, it is information that you may find helpful in discussing with the healthcare professionals you use. Always consult with them first for any new changes in your health regimen and any health concerns you have. Remember your teenage years? All the new thoughts and emotions that began to flood our minds and bodies, but a complete lack of awareness that they were being fueled in large part by hormones?
I like to think of midlife as the adult version of that hormonal shift with the added benefits of wisdom, access to information, and being empowered to tap into the resources available. Just today another woman asked me as she joined alongside me on my daily morning walk, what else do you do besides walk? A lot of women have been turning up lately looking for guidance. It must be the silver-streaked hair, lol. What I have shared with women and I will share with you as well, is we each need to find what is best for us as individuals. Having said that, I offer women two sources that have been helpful to me as I take a nature-based, holistic approach first before I ever consider turning to pharmaceuticals or surgical interventions. Don’t get me wrong, western medicine has its place, but it is not my first go-to. The first resource I recommend is my nurse colleague, Cynthia Thurlow, NP. Cynthia is a nurse practitioner with many years of experience who is a Metabolic Health-Fasting Expert who has a plethora of information to help women navigate this time in their lives. My favorite offering is the podcast, Everyday Wellness, where she discusses research-backed information that may be helpful to us women and interviews many leading experts on this topic. To learn more about Cynthia and her menu of information visit : www.CynthiaThurlow.com The second resource I invite women to look into is also a nurse colleague, Dr. Ellen Kamhi. Dr. Kamhi is a fellow Board Certified Advanced Holistic Nurse and leading Herbalist expert who is consulted by many major herbal brands. She has been not only a fabulous source of nature-based healing information, but a true inspiration! She has been involved in Natural Medicine since 1973. Like Cynthia, she too has a plethora of information to choose from. For women navigating midlife, you may want to consider purchasing her book, The Cycles of Life: Herbs & Energy Techniques for the Stages of a Woman’s Life. To learn more about Dr. Kamhi and her other offerings, please visit: www.NaturalNurse.com Transitioning to our later years can be a time of great joy, letting go of what no longer serves us, reflecting on our accomplishments and joyous times, and embracing a new era with new opportunities to name just a few. We don’t need to do it alone, nor do we need to succumb to the cultural narrative that it is a ruthless, hard journey. Find what works for you and enjoy this new stage of life that we are fortunate to arrive at. For those looking to learn more about how connecting with Mother Nature can help you live a more joyful, vibrant awe-inspiring life, please visit my website: www.TheNatureNurse.com. Sign up for my seasonal newsletter, follow me on social media @TheNatureNurse , and/or register for my signature program: Unearth Your True Nature. |
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