I've been craving the forest lately. A strange sort of craving, actually: almost drug-like in its promise to deliver me from my worries and gloom, to transport me to a place that feels a bit like a dream. It's like I need my fix. I feel a bit restless until I can get out there again.
We're lucky to live near a trail, and right now the glorious autumn weather makes the walk idyllic. In summer, it's full of fierce mosquitos, and a bizarrely persistent sort of fly. We call them our "personal" flies because they will circle our heads for miles, laughing as we swat at them, helpless to dislodge them. So summers, we walk in town.
And in a few weeks, we'll be in Valencia, Spain for half a year. It's a beautiful city with immersive destinations of its own! But they tend to be cultivated, not wild, and crowded full of other people. I know other people exist, and have every right to enjoy the outdoors with me. But, and I don't mean this in a bad way: Fuck off, other people! You can come back later when I'm not in the mood for a solitary stroll.
All that's to say: these woods walks are precious, and I'm trying to enjoy the hell out of them these next few weeks. And as it happens, there's a bit of a trick to it.
Number One Trick For Enjoying A Walk in the Woods
You already know it, don't you? It's that much-easier-said-than-done, all-purpose solution to just about everything: Be Present.
And I hate when that's the answer to anything, because I really suck at it. Be present? HOW??
Well, a big part of the answer seems to be: intentionally, but gently.
If I don't at least remind myself periodically to STFU and pay attention and invite nature in, it's easy to find myself emerging from the woods without ever really having been in there at all. On the other hand, I can't expect transcendence every time. I can manage to get out of my over-thinky head for part of the journey, in little fits and starts, that's just fantastic.
A birdcall here, a rustling squirrel there, a soft breeze stirring the treetops, a sudden spot of color where I wasn't expecting it.
I try to tune into feelings, not thoughts. My brain resists, of course. It takes a bit of effort to lug my stubborn weighty consciousness over to the "other side": from left brain to right brain, from constant analysis to emotion and sensation, from top-down "that is a deciduous tree" to bottom up "I must touch that bark and feel the roughness right this minute!"
Wanna hear something corny? It really helps if I remember, upon seeing something pleasant, to take in a deep breath and say "thank you." And then the words "thank you" seem to trigger a strange peaceful sensation, and I say "thank you" to that, which deepens the sense of peace, and so I say... well. You can see where this not-so-vicious cycle of gratitude is going. Goofy, but satisfying.
Is Walking in the Woods Good for Your Health?
Of course it is, for obvious reasons. According to a post I wrote years ago, apparently as an excuse for posting pictures of naked people in the woods throughout the centuries: yes, "forest bathing" has a lot of health benefits. It can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, improve memory, boost mood, and even help your immune system work better.
And of course should you need help, there are various commercial enterprises ready to make money off of your walk in the woods. I'm sure with the best of intentions.
However, if you want to save some money: in the same post with the naked people, I clicked through to an older post I'd written about how to do walking meditations if you suck at meditating. And I hadn't realized that I was so much more intentional about meditation than I am now. It was kinda fun to discover that some of those tips are actually pretty good, if you have an overthinky brain like mine. I'm going to try to keep them in mind.
On the other hand, sometimes you just want to be unintentional, to relax and let the forest take you where ever it wants. Because at times it's nice not to see the forest for the trees.
Whether forest, shore, swamp, grassland, city park or wherever: Is anyone else craving nature lately? Any particular way you like to experience it?
Lovely though Valencia is, if you want to get away from people for a while you need to head inland to the "España Vacía". With a few exceptions (looking at you, Madrid), most of the population of Spain is concentrated around the coast. Head up into the mountains where the wild things (and internet-connected ducks) are and you can walk all day without seeing a soul. We even have forests!
ReplyDeleteAh, I love when my favorite fowl stops by! And it does sounds quite tempting to travel to your neck of the woods. While we've seen a lot of charming cities, towns, and villages we haven't done nearly enough exploring of the mountains. We don't have a car, and technically aren't supposed to rent one without Spanish drivers' license since we have residency cards. But would the cops really throw two old guiris in jail for "misunderstanding" that an international drivers licences wouldn't work? :) Plus, buses and trains and bla bla cars exist, so enough excuses!
DeleteWhen we go camping, one of my personal highlights is we go for walks on the trails in the woods. At some point, EVERY time we go, I will stop and just listen to the silence. My family understands my need for this. We stand very, very still and just listen ... and absorb ... and breathe, very quietly. Then we proceed down the path, renewed. Well at least I am. The family probably is just glad to get going again. lol
ReplyDeleteI can't tell you how many times those moments bring me to tears. It is ... magic? I dunno. But I feel refreshed, recharged, and a bit more positive about life.
There is something kinda magical about the woods isn't there, walkerlady? I love that you find it so restorative too. Sometimes I see things out of the corner of my eye that I could swear are a bit otherworldly, and I love to suspend disbelief for a bit and imagine that there is more there than meets the eye...
ReplyDeleteI am very, very thankful for Sunday morning walks with Mr. Cal and Becca. It's usually mostly quiet, nice views even as we walk in a neighborhood, ponds and trees and green spaces, and you can hear the birds, squirrels and geese or ducks sometimes. It's just what I need.
ReplyDeleteI have to be present to some extent because I have to make sure I'm watching where Mr. Cal does his business, we don't want to leave it, even if we aren't on anyone's property. No one should have to spend their nice walk in nature watching out for where neighbors weren't responsible.
I am not surprised that you're scrupulous about cleaning up what Mr. Cal leaves behind, Messymimi, you are that sort of person! Because yes, of all the lovely sights and smells one can encounter out in nature, a big pile of dog poop is not high on my list.
DeleteI needed to wait to comment for a bit until I could control my jealousy. You can just walk on unpaved surfaces every bit as well as smooth pavement and floors! So could I a year and a bit ago, before the IT band syndrome and whatever it has now evolved into. Now I don't think going to walk on a trail would be wise, since just walking across the grass in the yard is an effort. I would hate to get stuck. Now there are trails near me (well, for some version of near) that are paved, but my favorite ones are the ones that are not. (If you're interested, look up https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/louisville-loop-trail. So many choices!)
ReplyDeleteOh Mary Anne, I'm so sorry! That sounds so frustrating, I hope it gets better. Although it's frustrating How Fxxcking Long things take to get better after a certain age, and how many things never entirely resolve. I looked at your trail site and wow, isn't it great when local governments get proactive about alternative transportation and "recreation," which often actually means health and fitness. So many communities don't give a damn. Hope you get back out on the trails eventually!
Delete