Oh North Carolina, with your meandering rivers and your ancient mountains. I’ve worried I was no longer going to be able to enjoy these things. I’ve worried I should not be enjoying these things. But Jason kindly reminded me that one can not care for others without first caring for oneself. One cannot fill another’s glass from an empty pitcher. And so I gladly accepted the invitation for a Reddies float this Sunday. No email, no cell phones, no obligations if only for a couple of hours. And I’m not sorry I did.
In Japan, people practice “forest bathing” (Shinrin-yoku). The idea is that the sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh clean air give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry and help us to relax and think more clearly, and can even restore our mood. How about more literally bathing in the forest?
So yeah, I have a bit of catching up to do today, but Jason was right in his assessment of my state of mind Sunday: a little bathing in the forest was exactly what I needed to rejuvenate and rest and prepare for the onslaught of the week. The effect is truly amazing. I have a zillion river tubes if anyone want to borrow them to try this out for themselves.
