What are some benefits of a couple of days outdoors?  Of course, it is beautiful, the air smells different, and there aren’t as many people around. But what does submersing ourselves in nature actually do for us?

One of things it does for us is give us the opportunity to “unplug” from our lives for a short period of time.  That is a very common phrase, but what does it really mean other than not using our electronic devices?  It means leaving behind the constant demands on us. This includes others wanting us to do something, our own expectations of getting things done, and the feeling that we must be doing, watching, or communicating something all the time.  

Once you leave these things behind, it is amazing how much stress is gone.  Our pace slows.  Our minds stop spinning around so quickly and we begin to notice the quiet that engulfs nature.  After even more time, we notice that nature has its own sound.  We notice how the water flows over the rocks.  We notice the hawks circling in the sky looking for dinner.  We notice the sound of the wind through the trees.  

In some ways, we have stepped into a different world. One that is always there going about its own business.  Where lives of those that inhabit these places goes on completely ignorant our texts, phone calls, emails, and social media posts. One that doesn’t care about the current politics of the day or what is and is not being reported in the media. It has its own pace.  One that is slower and very different from our daily lives and is one that can bring us rest, peace, and give us time to reflect on the direction of our lives.  Get out there and see if your perspective on some aspect of your life changes.