I love nature, but never really thought about how being in nature changed my perspective or how it made me feel. I would take daily hikes when I lived in the mountains. Looking back, I felt so much better. My Health & Trees was affected by my daily strolls through the hills close to home.
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Sadly, things in my life changed. Chronic and autoimmune illnesses hit my house like a ton of bricks. Leaving me as the caregiver for four people, I lost my outside self. There was always something to do, everyone had needs and I had to meet them. As a caregiver to chronically ill people you adapt to their lives and needs and you lose much of yourself.
But last week when I ordered a book written by a friend of mine things changed. The author Verla Fortier is a retired nurse and a nurse educator. Verla has two chronic autoimmune diseases that were overwhelming. She closed herself off from the world and accepted her fate. But then something changed for her, she went outside of the medical worlds knowledge and what her doctors told her and found trees.
From her blog I noticed she was always outside among the trees. She talked about how the trees and green-spaces had helped her regain her health and life. Verla inspired me and I wanted to know what I was missing.
So I Ordered The Book
Verla’s book arrived from Amazon. As most of you know, I am not a book reader, nor do I have much time to read. But I dug in and started reading. I have to admit I was captivated. I read it in three days and found so much useful information. To be honest I was shocked by the amount of research there was on the impact of trees and your health. In Scotland you can actually get a prescription for nature. How great is that!
While reading I thought back to my days in the mountains and how much better I felt outside. When my family got sick, we stopped going outside, we hibernated in the house. It was just easier than going outside and hauling the wheelchair around.
Take Back Your Outside Mindset
After reading Verla’s book it changed my perspective. My desire for action had been ramped up. I am very blessed that our new home has a very large yard. We have many wonderful big spruce, maple, oak and other large trees surrounding our home.
After completing her book, Take Back Your Outside Mind, I went outside. Zac and I rolled up and down our very long driveway. We stopped at each tree and took deep hard breathes with each tree and bush we passed. I broke off leaves on the trees Zac couldn’t reach. Zac smiled the entire time. We even started naming our trees after some of our pets that are no longer with us. As suggested in Verla’s book, naming the trees helps to make them part of the family.
Finding Joy In The Trees
Now our trees are family and the daunting task of getting outside that seemed hard before felt freeing for all of us. Our yard is loaded with many trees and shrubs. We don’t have to go far to get the benefits of trees and green spaces, it’s right out our door.
Finding joy in trees seemed so simple, but I didn’t see it before. I was so caught up in coping with loss of my independence that I missed it. Finding trees helped me realize I didn’t lose it, I gave it up. The joy is back and the trees I looked past before are now part of my family and life. More like my therapists. They listen without judgement and emit wonderful aromas to clear my brain.
I mentioned to Chet, my husband, about how much better he seemed after after mowing our lawn. He has a riding mower and cruises around the trees. He is more peaceful after mowing the lawn and his pain level seems to be less. There truly is something about this tree stuff. Now we are paying attention to how it makes us feel after our time outside.
You Will Become More Vital and Beautiful – My Health & Trees
One quote by Verla in the book that really hit me:
“As you age with chronic disease you will become more energized and happier. You will become more vital and refresh your life. You will become more beautiful. Others will be more attracted to you. With your new outside mindset you will change the way you live, love and breathe.“
Just walking out my back door, deeply inhaling, makes me feel that way now. I have found the joy in the majestic trees that surround my home. Even the old grandma tree that is half dead holds it’s charm for me. I swear she seems more alive this year!
” The best way to find something is not know your looking for it”
In Conclusion:
Verla, I want to thank you for writing this book. I will admit I feel better already and I encourage others to read Take Back Your Outside Mindset. You will feel better. If you can only look out your window at trees do it. The view will have a lasting impact on you! If you are unable to get outside due to illness or mobility ask for help. I also recommend that during the very cold months get a diffuser and some good essential oils from trees. One of my favorites is Idaho Balsam Fir. Eucalyptus, pine, Frankincense, and other tree oils are available. Close your eyes and breathe deep, you will feel like you are in the woods or the rain forest.
Happy Health and Happy Tree hunting. In Verla’s book she lists apps for your phone about trees. The apps actually help identify the trees around you. Very cool! I am going to download one today.
When I first heard about this book I was sceptical..but interested so I purchased it and loved it! So informative and filled with natural and “natures” ways of healing I highly recommend it! Thanks for sharing your review!
Right Holly, I was pleasantly surprised as well. Loved it and made me really rethink about the hibernating I’ve been doing
Beautiful post Kimberly. I also love the mountains and nature and I think there is no better place to be. I started to hug trees this year and needed to stop because we had a terrible mosquito in my area, the EEE, I need to go walking with natural insect repellent. Very nice post, I may get the book.
You should the book is fabulous and darn about the mosquitoes ugh. good luck finding a good bug spray, I know Avon has an oil that is actually a body oil but repels mosquitoes
Also used by the military
Very nice article. I love hiking and I really love trees. My favorite tree is the Mountain Laurel. They are prevalent in East TN.
TN looks like a wonderful place I hope to visit. So many different trees than in Idaho
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