Nature - the Best Cure for a Down Mood - Healing Lifestyles & Spas

Nature is one of the best teachers to help us through life. The simple balance of everything coexisting and functioning together makes it easy to recognize that there can be lessons found outdoors. Whether we look to individual aspects of nature or the entire ecosystem, we can lean on Mother Nature to teach us valuable life lessons. For instance, look at the life cycle of a tree. The process of growing from a tiny seed into a huge, leafy adult tree takes hundreds, sometimes thousands of years.

What a perfect representation of patience. General Sherman, the largest tree in the world, is a fantastic example of patience. Located in Sequoia National Park, near Visalia, California, the tree is 275 feet tall and almost 52,513 cubic feet. It takes thousands of years for a tree to grow that tall. The oldest tree in the world, Pinus Longaeva, is believed to be 4,844 years old, which makes the tree one of the oldest naturally grown things on earth. Imagine the amount of changes this tree has had to endure in order to stand tall today.

The same goes for humans. Each new experience brings a new outcome in our lives but we have to learn to weather the hard times in order to stand tall and make it through to the next bright sunny day. The trees grow tall into the sky reaching their branches up towards the sunlight to allow the shadows to fall below them.

When we find ourselves in a difficult situation all we have to do is turn our heads up to the bright sky and let the sunlight fall onto our faces so the fears and worries will fall behind us like the shadows of the trees.

I’ve learned that the trick to enjoying life is to experience it fully, which means just like the tree that weathers the elements, we must learn to live through, accept, and appreciate the tough times as well as the good times.

The tree endures everything from the natural weather patterns of earth to the evolution of society; this tree is a survivor and a wise source of inspiration. The power of patience is immense, especially when we want to create a fulfilling life. The saying all good things come to those who wait may be a cliché but it is true. When we wait for things we want we often feel more gratitude when we receive them.

It’s no secret that choosing natural, organic foods grown from the earth will give you great health. In general, when we eat more fruits and vegetables rather than processed sugary, carb-injected, fake food we feel better, our insides function better and we have more energy. The domino effect of eating healthy food is tremendous. When I start my morning with fresh lemon water or tea, I feel five times better than when I start with a latte loaded with cream and sugar. Naturally, my lunch is healthier; I usually choose better snacks and even have a better workout each day.

However, when I wake up and go straight to sugar and processed junk food, refined carbs or sugar-loaded cereal my body has to work overtime just to digest and process all the foreign food. While my body is spending time trying to process all the sugary food, it is using energy that could have been used to enjoy my day. When my body is trying to digest such foreign foods it takes a lot of energy and then I feel tired more quickly.

Doctor Kirchmeier, a dentist in Eugene OR says his healthiest patients are those that choose a low sugar low fat diet. Eating foods that are natural and organic can improve your smile, your mood and your energy level.