How I get my therapy

Let me start by saying that I hope everyone is doing well during this rough time.

In some areas of the country things are starting to very, very, slowly get back to the norm, but we all know that things are not the same yet. They may never be. Thoughts like that, as well as being stuck in the house for weeks on end, and let’s face it, locked together with our family/roommates, etc., can be stressful at the very least. For those prone to anxiety, thoughts of how these last several months will affect the future can be downright scary.

I am just as vulnerable to ruminating on the possible outcomes as anyone else. I cope in many ways. Some of them are less healthy than others (eating too much, drinking too much alcohol, and just trying to ignore it). But some of the healthier habits I’ve adopted have really helped too (meditation, more writing, more conversations with family). But one coping mechanism that I’ve used for years and will continue to use is hiking.

I’ve been wandering around the woods ever since I was in junior high. Something about being in the trees, away from the trappings of my day to day life is so soothing. Being surrounded by nature lets me breathe. It fills my head with song and my heart with joy. It reminds me that there are still places in the world that aren’t consumed by the worries of man. There is a practice that originated in Japan called forest bathing or ecotherapy. When I found out about it several months ago, I realized that I’d been doing my version all my adult life. It’s all about getting back to nature. Finding the peace of the natural world and taking it into yourself.

Before I moved to the Salt Lake City area, I had no idea that I would find myself in one of the biggest outdoor recreation areas in the country. People are drawn here from all over the world. It has big, wide open areas loved by users of side-by-sides, dirt bikers, and Jeep crawlers. It has rocky mountain sides which rock climbers love. Of particular popularity is the snow, which boasts to be some of the best in the world for skiing, or so I’ve been told.

But for me and many others, the mountains provide some of the most beautiful hiking I’ve ever experienced. There are literally hundreds of miles of hiking trails to suit many different tastes. Desert? Planes? Alpine? Woodland? Rivers? Waterfalls? Lakes? Short? Long? Easy to advanced. Utah has it all. I live in a residential area only ten minutes from downtown Salt Lake City. There is a river walk literally five minutes from me. A thirty-minute drive will take me up in the canyons with access to dozens of trails. All free and open for your pleasure.

My perfect hike is a dirt trail winding through a mostly wooded mountain side with a stream flowing downhill past me. Something about running water energizes me. I’ve read somewhere before that a lot of people experience it because the water actually releases negative ions into the air, which when we inhale them produces biochemical reactions that have mood and energy boosting benefits. Not only that, but the sound of water is also soothing to most people. For my other senses, I love hard wood tress for the color and look, but I like enough evergreens mixed in that I can smell them. Not too hot. Spring and fall are the best times for me. I tend to overheat easily. Not so difficult that I am too occupied with just breathing to notice the sights around me, but I don’t mind working a little. Particularly if a beautiful sight awaits me.

Hiking and being in nature are my therapy. I walk out into the beauty of nature. I feel it around me, and I can suddenly breathe deeper. I feel a smile and serenity creep over me. It puts so many things into perspective. I makes all the worries of the future fade into the background and brings me back to the moment. So whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, or too stressed, or too worried, I can always get outside and find my center.

Throughout out this article I've included just some of the photos I've snapped while out in nature. I hope you enjoy them.

I invite you to think about some times you've spent in the great outdoors. And as always, I'd love to hear from you.