Have you ever taken a bath in a forest? I don’t mean skinny dipping in a cold stream, either.
It’s called shinrin-yoku, and is Japanese for “forest bathing” or, just time spent outdoors drenching yourself in the wonderfulness of the natural expanses around you.
I remember special times as a child doing this high up on my perch in a giant tree in Portland, Oregon, gazing at the world above, below, and around me. Then there were times in San Jose, California, as I lay sprawled out on the grass trying to feel the 
world turn while watching the clouds above float by.
The happiness, joy, peace, and contentment I felt was more than just being a kid without responsibilities; although that did help, I’m sure. It was a part of a deep primal need to be grounded to the earth and to be connected to nature.
The results we all know and have experienced – but yay – (wink) – they are now confirmed with science! Stress hormones drop, anxiety lessens, and blood pressures normalize when we surround ourselves with nature. Did you need a study to tell you that concrete jungles and office cubicles aren’t healthy?
Me neither.
As a 24/7 caregiver, I miss bathing in nature the most. There’s just not enough time away to do the necessary errands, get some exercise time, and bathe in nature to any great extent.
Last summer, a walk with our adult children in the majestic redwood
forests of Northern California was a holy experience. Quietly stepping into the ancient tabernacle of giant redwoods was life-changing! I return to that experience often to relive the awe and wonder of it. Presently, extended slow walks to the mailbox and some time spent on the back porch swing have to satisfy that deep need for now.
Where do you go to bathe in nature?
Here in Eastern North Carolina, many turn to the water. Time in a 
boat on the river or time sitting on one of our beautiful beaches satisfies many. Time to unplug from the rat race and reconnect to the REAL WORLD of nature.
Still others in our area enjoy year-round golfing opportunities. While designed by man, golf courses do follow the natural terrain and are certainly a place of green-ness. Pun intended. While hitting that little white ball around can often be frustrating, golfers’ experiences can be tempered by the loveliness of the course.
Keep forest bathing tucked in the back of your mind for a minute while I seem to change subjects.
I recently listened to a TED talk about the biggest predictor of longevity. Diet? Exercise? Weight control?
Nope.
All of the usual suspects were way down the list.
Friends? Social connections? Getting warmer…
The best indicator of longevity turned out to be the number of daily face-to-face connections we had. Smiling at people. Striking up brief conversations with strangers. Laughing about the human condition with someone while in line at the bank. Lamenting about the price of tomatoes with a fellow shopper. Little connections. With humans. Face-to-face.
Not all that different from connecting with Mother Nature.
Making connections. It’s vitally important to a well-balanced life. In fact, I have long called such pleasantries with strangers as “making the day.” We need to do more of that.
Having philosophized about connections with man and nature, let me share with you something wonderful that happened recently that sort of ties this all together.
As a member of our local Chamber of Commerce, I always try to schedule an outing from caregiving duties that coincides with our Chamber’s monthly Business-AfterHours event. It’s a time to make connections: renew personal friendships and a chance to start new business connections. There are always door prizes.
Yours truly won one of the main door prizes! I had never heard of a Dash Caddie before, so the young inventor and his wife had to show and demonstrate it to me.
Jeff Duncan was having a problem keeping track of his golf possessions while riding around the course in his golf cart. You know: extra balls, tees, cell phone, pencils all seemed to be at the bottom of his bag. Irritating. Not what a golfer is looking to have more of.
Necessity is the mother of invention, so he invented the Dash 
Caddie, which is a portable box that can mount into almost any golf cart or suction-cupped onto the dash of an RV or boat with ease.
After two years of the Duncan’s engineering, design changes, and making manufacturing contacts, I won one of the first Dash Caddies to come off of the assembly line! Their website at dashcaddie.com is taking pre-orders, but something tells me those orders will be filled real soon!
This is where the whole post ties together. If you are bathing in the wonders of nature on the golf course, on the waterways, or as you travel the open road, the Dash Caddie will eliminate many of those nagging problems that irritate some of the restorative joy you are seeking.
It just seemed to be a perfect moment to share with you readers:
- Our deep primal need to reconnect with nature and why it is good for us
- Our need to connect with each other even on a casual basis and how doing so can boost our health.
- An opportunity to spread the word on a good thing with no personal gain on my part.
I encourage you to “bathe in nature” more. Ramp-up those casual connections with others in public, and check out Dash Caddie.
With spring upon us, we can all dive into nature every day possible. Regardless of season, there are always ample opportunities to reach out to others during our daily life. If there is a golf cart, RV, or boat in your life or someone you know, a Dash Caddie is the perfect gift for them!
In health and “making the day”-
Deidre