The Magic of Being in the Woods
Let’s take a walk in the woods.
Five years ago, Ryan and I took a two-week trip to Washington State to celebrate my fortieth birthday.
It was a big deal- not just turning 40, but traveling at all. It was the summer of 2021, we were feeling ok about getting on a plane (with masks, of course) and the CDC was reporting a pretty sizeable dip in Covid cases.
Things were really looking up!
The plan was to rent a car, buy a ginormous cooler and explore the three amazing national parks in Washington- North Cascades, Mt. Rainier and Olympic.
We’d both hiked together quite a bit of course, but never for such a prolonged period of time. Hiking, and being in the forest, was the whole point of the trip- not just a daylong side excursion.
So- apart from an overnight in Seattle on either end of the two weeks, we spent the entire time in the woods. We hiked over glen and dale! We hiked on bridges over glacial water! We stayed the night in Forks and made numerous Twilight references!
All in all, very woodsy.
I’m not exactly sure when I began to notice a subtle shift in my shoulders. The intense anxiety of the Covid era (under Trxmp, no less) had taken up residence there like it had for you too, I’d wager.
But in the woods? It melted away. With each step, with each deep breath of that pine-scented air… the trees took the anxiety from me.
Soon after we returned to Charlotte, we quickly decided that our future vacations? They would revolve around hiking in the woods.
No city can really compare.
I mean, come on.
Turns out, there is a lot of #science behind why being in the forest is amazing for us humans.
According to this article from the NIH, forest bathing (which really just means being in there) increases “human natural killer activity.”
Sure, that sounds really bad but it just means that being in the forest can actually have a “preventive effect on cancers.”
Phew… and wow!
Per the article, being in the forest can also:
reduce blood pressure and stress hormones
increase parasympathetic nerves (ie. make you chill as hell)
improve sleep
reduce scores for anxiety and depression and increase scores for “vigor” (hey-oh!)
help you resist Covid-19 due to boosting your sweet immune system!
I mean, the forest is magical, right? Is there anything it can’t do?
Grow where you’re planted?
Now sure- all of that #science is important, and true, and real.
But here is my anecdotal evidence that I can now share with a decent amount of experience:
The trees help me when I’m hiking. In New England, there is a lot of up and and a lot of down. I sometimes have to scoot on my booty on very big boulders here. There is always a tree to help provide a handhold. I try to always say thank you.
If you think that last bullet point sounded a bit crazy or woo, I dare you to try it. Give it a pat and say thank you next time you pass by a tree. I’ll give you five million dollars* if you don’t feel a smidge happier afterward.
The shift in my mood after being in the woods is noticeable to my spouse.
I have never, not ever, felt bored looking at trees- even after being in the forest for hours and seeing only trees.
In the book I’m reading about Scottish folk belief, the author describes how different natural places were thought to house magical beings like fairies- and I can totally understand where they are coming from.
My body feels different- lighter, more free maybe? in the woods.
*Not really. But still try it!
Maya feels the magic.
So what’s the point here? I’m not really sure, to be honest.
Maybe this is just my own personal ode to the forest. Maybe I’m trying to convince you to take a walk in the woods soon, and just try to note how you feel afterward.
And maybe I’m feeling a little conflicted.
As I wrote about in my last post, Ryan and I have decided to cut our slow travels short and plant ourselves (at least on a trial basis) in Chattanooga, TN. This is the right decision (I positively ache for more in-person human contact!) but I do fear that I’ll lose this precious, ever-present time in the woods.
Maybe it’s just about things coming back into balance. A little give (hiking time) and a little get (people, community, opportunity for giving back).
Time will tell! As for now- it’s time to close the laptop and get back out into the woods.