COME OUTSIDE

A few days ago, Leaf and I spent several hours re-organising a messy part of the garden – sand, horse manure, branch cuttings and rotten plum slush (!) had us sorting, humping, bagging and sweeping.  Sounds grim?  Not at all, it was highly satisfying, even though I did most of the heavy stuff and Leaf spent his time breaking up small twigs for kindling.

LEAF AND MONTY TAKING THE AIR

We all know how important it is to spend as much time in the fresh air as we can and those of us who are lucky enough to live in the country, have no excuse not to.  Sometimes, the idea of facing a cold wind and rain can be enough to put us off but if we have a dog, we just have to get on with it.  And we’re usually glad we braved the elements.  Doggy energy demands a good walk daily and for us, regular exercise is essential for well-being.  Leaf does a short walk or two with Monty in the morning and we do another, longer one in the afternoon or evening.  We have a demanding garden too, so we simply have to get out into the fresh air.

If we live and work in a large town or big city, for good health, we will have to make an effort to escape the bustle, noise and, most of all, the pollution, whenever we can. There are buses and trains that will take us to the outskirts and into some greenery.

WOODLAND WALKS ARE WONDERFUL

Without getting into sports which can become more difficult as we get older and stiffer, especially for those into the middle to advanced stages of dementia, there are other ways we can enjoy the benefits of outdoor activities. Here are just a few that are fun as well:

LE JARDIN DES CLOGS AT GAUSSAN – A WONDERFUL PLACE TO WANDER

• woodland walks – being amongst trees is fantastic for general well-being
• picnics – you don’t have to go far. We’ve had picnics in fields up the road
• visiting open gardens – do some research for a local one
• following canal and riverside paths – these are not usually hard to find
• sketching – you don’t have to be an artist. A small pad, pencils and a stool are sufficient
• photography – wonderful shots will appear at every turn
• bird-watching – don’t forget binoculars and a pocket bird book
• flower and tree spotting – again pocket books for identifying
• wild herb collecting – for cooking and medicinal use
• in-season fruit picking – try not to eat too much!
• swimming – lots of choices here: the sea, lakes, rivers, your own pool if you have one – I did, once, and loved floating around on a lilo listening to zen music
• boating
• stone and pebble collecting – a great addition to the garden
• outdoor meditating, day-dreaming or reading in a quiet spot
• collecting from nature’s treasure-trove – sticks, feathers, rocks, shells for instance. I have several ‘natural scenes’ in glass cases!

BOATING – SO PEACEFUL IN A WOODLAND SETTING

And we mustn’t forget the gardening, of course.

It’s a good idea to arrange a weekly outing with lots of variation. Invite friends along or create a group of like-minded people and take it in turns to choose the activity. This discipline will encourage us to spend more and more time in nature.  If we start in the spring or summer, we’ll not want to miss out on autumn and winter weather won’t be so daunting – we’ll likely decide to carry on.

PAUSING FOR THOUGHT BY THE RIVER

Apart from the sheer pleasure of being in the great outdoors, there are many health benefits.  We all know we need Vitamin D and the sun is the best provider but there are risks attached.

Sunbathing is not a great idea.  Lying still and being fried may give some of us a great tan but the long-term affects can be disastrous or, at the very least, not exactly attractive.  Cancer and premature aging are prices we’re likely to pay.  I know we tend to look healthier with a tan but beauty could be skin-deep if we overdo it.

There are those who slather themselves in sunscreen or use sun beds to get a tan going, but both can be dangerous.  There’s lots of info online explaining why we should think about avoiding them. Our skins are our biggest organ and absorb whatever we put on them or subject them to.

Best advice is to start with ten minutes in full sun and build up over time.  If we have very light or delicate skin, we should cover up and resign ourselves to being pale and interesting!

Insects often pose a problem, particularly in the summer months. If we want to wear a repellent, it’s best to use an essential oil or natural organic product.  The chemical concoctions that litter the supermarket and chemists’ shelves are not good for us.  Once again, our skins will absorb them.  If we’re a magnet for biting insects, we’ll need to dress accordingly.

Mustn’t forget – getting grounded whenever possible by going barefoot is SO good for us.

NOT ALL INSECTS ARE BENIGN

Apart from the sheer exhilaration of spending time in nature and gently exercising our bodies, there are loads of other benefits.  Outdoor activity can:

• reduce blood pressure and heart rate
• strengthen the immune system
• improve sleep patterns
• increase energy and vitality
• calm the nervous system

GREAT FOR HEALTH AT ALL AGES

And mental benefits include:

• increased sharpness of the major senses
• increased perception
• increased awareness
• reduced anxiety, anger, depression, obesity, PTSD and ADHD
• increased self-esteem – yes, nature makes us feel good

Nature also:

• relaxes an over-worked brain
• promotes clarity of thought

The spiritual benefits are substantial.  To truly balance our lives, we need to feed our spirits which are likely to be suffering in today’s troubled world.  Mother Nature, even though we’re attacking her on every front, still offers us great comfort.  How much she can invigorate and enhance our spiritual experience of life is limitless.  Here are just a few of her gifts to us:

A LANDSCAPE TO TOTALLY INSPIRE

• wonder, gratitude and awe at the beauty of our planet, and therefore …
• a more ecological mindset, as well as …
• enhanced love of the natural world with all the different flora and fauna leading to …
• increased joy and feelings of belonging
• increased need to express ourselves through singing, dancing and creative pursuits – try dancing along a woodland path singing whatever takes your fancy!

And we mustn’t forget laughing for the sheer enjoyment of letting ourselves go.

LAUGHTER IS SO GOOD FOR US

All of these will enhance our lives, no matter how young or old, how sick or disabled.

It’s time to turn off our TVs and phones, put our computers to sleep and go breathe deeply the air that gives us life.  Me included!

 

ps  just back from today’s lakeside walk.  We heard some wonderful birdsong, including a golden oriole.  Click on Audio to hear her song.

 IF WE SHUT OUR EYES WHEN WE’RE OUT IN NATURE, 

WE WILL OPEN OURSELVES TO THE MUSIC OF ALL THAT SURROUNDS US, 

AND THE HARDER WE LISTEN, THE MORE WE WILL HEAR.