In the blink of an eye it’s the heart of summer and we’re busting out all the warm weather moves we’ve got for wellbeing.
INSTRUCTIONS: For this challenge, post your pictures in the comments on the PATH Facebook page for each corresponding week. Be sure to say the week and your title. That way we can all see each other’s fun and keep track of your “proof” that you did each week’s goal.
WEEK ONE THOUGHTS: The first week of the VEHI PATH annual Sizzlin’ Summer Challenge hopes to peak your interest in the old green thumb arena. Why? Plants and nature are integral to health and there’s no better time to get in the dirt than now.
This time of year the Peonies are bursting with color and even starting to go by. As a girl, my mom would make me weed the long peony beds in our back yard. If we didn’t help she’d threaten to move us to a concrete condo jungle. I knew it was a hollow threat but I knelt down and did as told anyway, not just for my allowance (and those Bonnie Bell lip smackers), but man did those plants look and smell like heaven. Even in my sullen teenage years, I couldn’t help but be swooned. Oh the power of plants! And the sense of accomplishment in knowing I helped was a sweet bonus. Since we lived in a historic home, knowing the beds were over 120 years old made the work matter even more as I pictured other teenagers sweating away like me through the decades. Mom is on the other side now, weeding peacefully in her garden of perfection. When I see a peony, I well up a smidge and thank her for giving me an early love of nature; and then I pull a weed on her behalf.
On a grand scale, doctors across the world are actually prescribing time in nature, or forest bathing as the Japanese call it, for illnesses such as heart disease, anxiety, and depression. Even people who suffer from chronic pain are benefiting (let’s face it, pain from doing nothing feels worse than pain from walking in marvelous places). The wonder of nature and its beauty, especially in a homeland like Vermont, dramatically changes our brain chemistry for the better. Further, the essence of natural oils and smells act as probiotics, enhancing our microbiome — that good bacteria in and on our bodies that fight infection, depression and diseases of all kinds.
Gardening further improves all markers for health even right down to dexterity and hand strength. Planning, problem solving and caring for a garden or living organism, seeing it thrive, can also decrease the risks of Alzheimer’s! Seriously, get outside and play in the dirt, people!
And even if you can’t get outside, potted plants still do the job by busting up toxins in your home, purifying the air and boosting mood and productivity.
Having even the slightest form of greenery in your life simply won’t be wasted, and the more the better. A quick internet search will spout off the reasons and the research, miles deep. Regardless, you and I (and Mom, of course) know in our guts that greenery is an absolute human necessity — Maslow forgot but not us.
As pointed out by author Robin Jacobs (a naturalist and psychologist), renowned biologist E. O. Wilson called it “biophilia” stating that “we are instinctively drawn to connect with other living, growing things; we want to feel part of the web of life.”
For in-depth ideas and instructions on potted plants at home, check out NBC’s article by Sophie Lee.
Cheers and enjoy!
See you on the PATH Ahead,
Gillian and the PATH Team (Shevonne, Amy, Ashley and VEHI PATH friends)