Member-only story
The Healing Powers of Forest Bathing
Forest bathing will change your life
It’s summertime in the dense woods of western Pennsylvania. I begin cruising down this large uneven hill. I am dodging trees, thorns and other plant life. I take a leap and grab onto a vine, swing a few feet and then I jump. As I fly through the air, my 11 year old self imagines escaping a bad guy. I land at the side of a narrow creek. I am safe. I stop moving. I stand in silence and listen to the waterflow. I hear the bluebirds chirping and the soft wind careening through trees. The woods are empty of all humans, except the imaginary ones, and yet the woods are full of life. I peer into the water to look for wildlife, maybe I will see a salamander, tadpole, crawfish or if I am really lucky a turtle. Finding a turtle was pretty much the ultimate experience in the woods. I am here, present in nature. Aware of all that surrounds me, purposefully taking in the sights and sounds. Silent and not moving. No real destination. Just me being mindful of my surroundings and focused on the now.
