Hello World, are you ready to sniff dirt?
I imagine you are thinking, “I’m interested in hiking and here someone wants me to sniff dirt. What kind of blog did I just click on?” If you seek wellness through nature, we have something in common.
I get it, sniffing dirt sounds weird. So let me explain. Like many of you reading this, I have a great love of the outdoors. Hiking, camping, fishing – you name it. But also, like so many of you, my abilities are hindered by my health. I’m 54 years old and have been morbidly obese for most of my adult life. Like countless others, I have tried nearly every diet out there. I’ve counted calories, counted carbs and deprived myself of one food group or another – for years! Some of these diets have worked for a while, but nothing has lasted. Popular diets that focus on the psychology behind eating have been very helpful, but in the long run I have found myself bored with them.
I don’t want to count calories or carbs – I want to go on adventures. I want to do those exciting things that I’ve always dreamed of – thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, climbing Mount Everest (a girl can dream). Heck, I would be happy to climb to the top of a stepladder without getting winded. There are so many amazing places to see and so many incredible adventures to be had in this world of ours. My imagination runs away with the possibility of it all. When it comes to reality, my imagination has left my body behind on the couch.
The Dilemma.
As exciting as these adventures may sound, I must ask myself “Are any of these things really possible for me? The answer is both painful and obvious – my present size and poor health are holding me back. I physically cannot hike that trail or climb that mountain.
My dilemma, as may be yours if you are reading this, is that my spirit does not match my worn out, lump of a body. My spirit is an adventure goddess, ready to summit the tallest mountains and hike the longest trails – a true warrior of the woods, capable of surviving amongst the Sasquatches. Hear me roar? More like – hear me reach for that bag of potato chips as I binge watch YouTube videos on how to hike the Appalachian Trail.
Even though my spirit may be willing, my body is anything but. While my spirit is being fitted for a backpack, my body is considering what to wear to my funeral. My body is a couch surfing, while my spirit on the other hand, is lost somewhere in the clouds near Everest base camp. The point is, the two are just not working together. There is, however, one common denominator between them – the great outdoors.
This is Where Sniffing Dirt Comes In.
From an early age, I have loved the outdoors. You could say adventure was my middle name. As a child I loved everything to do with the outdoors – hiking, building tree houses, fishing, leading my younger siblings and cousins on Sasquatch expeditions [BELIEVE]. I was curious about anything outdoor related.
For me, spending time in nature is very therapeutic. In addition to being overweight for most of my life, I have also been stressed out. Jobs, circumstances, relationships – you know what I am talking about. Especially in these trying times. The world is one great big casserole of stress right now. A quiet walk through the woods, or a morning spent in my garden, is a small escape from anxiety. I truly believe you can find a sense of wellness through nature. The smell of the trees, or the marsh at low tide, reminds me that I am part of something much bigger – a natural world that has survived kazillions of years with the ability to constantly heal itself. I find that fascinating. Sometimes I will pick up a handful of dirt from my garden and just breathe in its scent. All that earthy stuff brings me comfort. It tells me things are going to be okay.
Forest Bathing – It’s a thing.
The Japanese concept of Shinrin-yoku, translated quite literally as forest bathing, is the practice of surrounding oneself with nature while taking in the restorative benefits of the natural elements around us. What a cool idea! And there really is something to it. A simple walk through the woods can lift your mood. Whether it be a good dose of fresh air, a little extra Vitamin D from the sun – being in nature makes us feel better.
The National Park Service is exploring the health benefits found by spending time in nature with their collection of ‘Healthy Parks Healthy People Resources’. One of their findings is that people tend to exercise for longer periods of time when doing so in greenspaces verses indoor venues such as gyms. Hitting the trail often provides a more vigorous workout than a stationary bike or treadmill. It is quite possible to get a more rounded and strenuous workout in a natural arena when you have the beauty of nature to distract you. The steps just seem to magically add up. I’ll take the trail over the treadmill any day!
Get the Happy Juices flowing!
Have you ever wondered why the best smelling candles are nature scented? Certain scents are believed to lift our moods by increasing the release of serotonin – the “happy” chemical in our brain that makes us feel calm. The use of essential oils has become exceedingly popular in the last few years. Aromatherapy diffusers that release essential oils into the air are known to have certain health benefits, including relieving stress and anxiety, as well as promoting mental clarity. Essential oils are derived in large part from plants found in nature – Lavender, Tea Tree oil, Eucalyptus and Lemongrass are amongst the most popular. Each have calming properties that help alleviate stress. The herb Rosemary aides in brain function and helps to perk you up. I have a huge Rosemary plant in my garden, and I just love to run my hand over the needles and take a big sniff.
Other natural elements, such as healthy soil, rich in compost, contain a microorganism called mycobacterium vaccae that triggers the release of serotonin. A morning spent hiking in the forest, or tooling about in the garden, surrounded by nature’s built-in apothecary shop, is a natural anti-depressant. By the way – my favorite aromatherapy scent is pine.
Nature is Calling to Us
Today, more than ever, there seems to be a resurgence towards wholistic remedies, natural healing methods, and just an overall interest in the great outdoors. Folks are realizing how good it feels to step away from their stress, even for a short while, by spending time in their garden, or enjoying an afternoon “forest bathing.” Mother Nature’s arms are wide open to us. There are so many adventures to be had, and so many things to discover out there in the natural world. Time spent in the woods is a sanctuary from stress. Sasquatch, it seems, has the right idea.
Hike Your own Hike – Sniff your own dirt.
So where do we start? Certainly not with a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. Being ambitious is one thing, setting yourself up for failure is quite another. The best place to start is always at the beginning – with where you are today. There is a common saying amongst avid hikers – “Hike your own hike.” In other words, don’t feel like you need to keep up with everyone else. Go at your own pace. There is more than one truth that can be gleaned from this. First, and most important, is that the journey is yours. It’s okay to start where you are. The important thing is simply to start. Secondly, when you hike at your own pace you are less worried about keeping up with the crowd and more likely to focus on the natural, healing elements around you – the sniffing dirt part.
This is Not a How To, it’s a Let’s Do!
Let me make it clear – this isn’t a blog about how I lost weight sniffing dirt. Not yet anyway. It is a blog about my journey while losing weight, and my discoveries while “sniffing dirt.” I am a LONG way off from reaching my goals. But my right foot has stepped forward on the trail and my left foot has followed. The path lay before me, and the grave behind me. For today I choose the backpack over the casket, and I say to my spirit – lead on! Everest Base Camp here we come.
