Forest Therapy &
Nature Photography

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Even as a writer, nothing I say can quite convey what Mother Earth has given to me. I hope the pictures I take can give you even a little bit of that.

 

I've always been a lover of nature, especially in childhood. Like many of us, the pandemic brought me back to my roots. But when the pandemic ended for everyone else, I didn't quite get to go back to the freedom of “normal” life. Outings in nature was one way I coped with this problem. Most of my photos come from hidden pockets of Chicagoland, little hideaways that feel like more big nature preserves.

 

People with invisible disabilities - especially more than one - are more prone to conditions of isolation. This can be due to physical barriers, or ones of a financial root. Without a proper support system, whether this is medical or social, disabled people can get stuck in states of confinement. Social and sensory deprivation are two separate things, both having health consequences. Studies have shown a link between isolation and neurological issues, as humans are creatures of connection, and the brain is a social organ.

 

While I am an advocate for my community, the message about mindfulness is universal. You don't have to have a chronic illness to feel trapped or stuck. There is so much healing within the natural world around us, and hidden parts of ourselves which we may not access until we tune in. Whether it's a tree or a person with an invisible disability, life is not limited to a surface glace. Open your heart to the stories around you. There is so much knowledge in taking a close look at things, that which we rush by in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

 

Related courses:

Environmental Ethics

The Art of Focus: Exploring Meditation and MindfulnessTechniques

Senior Seminar: Thich Nhat Hanh and Henry David Thoreau

 

Intern at That Forest Feeling