NATURE IS AN AMAZING GIFT OF HEALING!

Nature is an amazing gift! The sun, wind, water, plants, and stars help us in so many ways! With the increase of technology, people are spending more time indoors becoming less connected with each other and the world around them. In 2024 many adults and children are sadly more stressed, frustrated, overweight, isolated, sick, depressed, and sleep-deprived. Laura Dabney M.D. a psychiatrist for over 20 years states that, “anxiety and depression, both of these things go up when you’re stuck inside; even if you’re choosing to be stuck inside.”

So, the best and often free solution is to get outdoors by choosing simple activities like gardening, hiking, swimming, surfing, paddling, meditation, fishing, picnics, hanging out at the beach or in the forests. Here on Maui, the list is endless! There are so many healing benefits to spending time outdoors. It is proven to help lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, improve confidence, enhance self-esteem, increase natural vitamin ‘D’ from the sun, boost memory, expand creativity, and more. A combination of the outdoors and meditation can provide even more health benefits and has been shown to help with issues such as anxiety, asthma, cancer, chronic pain, clarity, depression, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, sleep disorders, and tension headaches.

Nature is always communicating to help us be present and co-create the world we desire. Like the joyful song of birds, the sun’s energizing effect rising over Hāleakala, the gliding feeling of riding a wave, the stars twinkling lights, and even the Humpback Whales splash as they breach in the ocean. All of these outdoor experiences can help heal our body, mind, and spirit - something a lot of us need right now. If you find yourself spending too much time indoors I encourage you to step away from technology and go submerge yourself in nature, alone or with friends and family. By embracing nature’s flowing rhythm - that we are all a part of - it can help heal and reconnect you to yourself.