December 5, 2020
Reflection: There are many reasons (and benefits!) to simply stepping outside.
Today, I'm grateful for: fresh air
Challenge: Get outside!
If you've ever lived in the Midwest, you know what cold really is. Those bone-chilling, backache-inducing winters that make you ask the question, "WHY DO I LIVE HERE?!" as you rage-walk to your car in the blustery cold are a force to be reckoned with. Despite this cold, there is something I've come to appreciate about the brisk winter air. Maybe it's the invigorating feeling that slaps you in the face as you step outside. Or the guilty-pleasure of that ice-fueled punch into your lungs when you breathe in the fresh air because it means you've actually stepped outside for once. Or maybe it's just the small chance that a beam of sunlight will reveal itself just long enough to warm your cheek on a still day (which seem few and far between anymore).
In either path, our lungs represent a powerful life source to our bodies. And the air around us that we breathe represents a critical part of our Earth's ecosystem. At the highest level, our lungs take in oxygen, and produce cardon dioxide as a waste product. While the trees and plants around us absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen for us to breathe. This beautiful balance can even be reflected in the very makeup of these unique life forms....see all the little "trees" that live in our lungs?....
If you're not yet convinced by my literary antics, here's a few more (science-based) reasons why we should step outside, and get some fresh air:
1) Mental health: According to Harvard health, research in a growing scientific field called ecotherapy has shown a strong connection between time spent in nature and reduced stress, anxiety, and depression. On the nicer days, I like to do yoga on my deck in the mornings. On the average days, I try to get out for a walk. And on the not-so-nice days, sometimes a couple minutes in front of a sunny window will do the trick for me. Whatever the path, a few minutes with Mother Earth go a long way!
2) Physical health: Exercise-aside, scientists have found that breathing in phytoncides (the airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects) can increase white blood cell function which helps protect our body from cells infected with tumors or viruses. A bonus benefit? The vitamin D gained through sunlight exposure, which has been proven to improve our protective immunity and fight infections.
3) Spiritual health: Getting out of the house, and into nature first gives us the opportunity to clear the path and make space for a spiritual connection. In the deepest, darkest depths of the winter, we can fall into the trap of an overly-comforting routine, and we can lose our connection with nature, our sense of being or even our sense of purpose. If you've ever spent time in a forest, or on a mountain, or near the ocean, there's just something deeply spiritual that connects us to something bigger than we are. Taking the first step to get outside can go a long way.
XO
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