Nature is good for us.
A growing body of scientific research shows that exposure to natural settings can help ward against depression, anxiety, and chronic disease, while offering benefits for cognitive function, blood pressure, sleep, and overall mental health.
But it’s not just good for our bodies and minds. It’s also good for our spirits. Throughout history, philosophers, poets, and mystics have recognized the role nature plays in nourishing the soul.
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”
“Nature’s beauty is an art of God.”
Why This Work Matters
Modern lifestyles have largely disrupted the relational patterns that once shaped human wellbeing.
Anatomically modern human beings have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. For the vast majority of that time, up until very recently, we lived in deep connection with the natural world — with the plants and animals that provided food, the land that provided shelter, and the seasons that governed the flow of our lives. We evolved specifically for this kind of existence.
Today, roughly 80% of people in the United States live in an urban environment. The majority of us spend less than one hour outside every day. As research makes clear, this indoor, sedentary existence has led to a number of health-related issues, as well as profound disconnection. People report increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness, with rates of depression on the rise.
We are more estranged from the natural world today than we have ever been in our history, and we are suffering for it. We weren’t designed for this.
“Going to the woods is going home.”
The good news is that rekindling our relationship with the natural world can help us live healthier, happier, more grounded lives.
It’s also good for the planet, because people in close relationship with nature do a better job caring for it.
It starts with intentional time outdoors. Just a few minutes a day experiencing the natural world right outside your door, in your back yard or in your neighborhood. From there you can work your way toward developing a personal bond with the lakes and forests throughout the Upper Midwest and beyond.
Northlandr is here to help you find your way to and in nature.