In every corner of the world; the furious honks of horns, toots of trains, blares of bike bells and sirens permeates the air. As commuters’ rush, moving from one place to the next, it often becomes a race against time. No matter what your mode of transportation is or how fast you go, history has proven that in one way or the other… time, always wins.
We live in a fast-paced world where everything is done quickly and the “now” effect has taken over. Because everything is moving quickly, if one is not careful, we might find ourselves always chasing the next big thing or as my Mom would say… ‘chasing the wind’. Sometimes, the only thing, we end up catching is stress, anxiousness and a host of other modern-day mental illnesses.
In the noise, haste and the constant push and pull, we often forget that there is a peace that comes with standing still; and a silence that can rejuvenates the mind. However, this only happens when we slow down, refocus and bring things into perspective. Sadly, in a world that goes like a turbo charged Ferris wheel; many have never had the pleasure of experiencing all this.
But what if, there’s a place that can offer all this. Free of charge, might I add (because who doesn’t love getting something expensive for free). What if, there’s a place where we can go to relax, rejuvenate and refocus the mind? What if, I tell you that there is a 90% chance that you pass one of these places on your way to work, school or maybe just running errands. No! It’s not the office of a therapist. What if I tell you that this place is actually…a garden? Yes, a mere garden! And no, I am not crazy.
I absolutely love gardens (this declaration warrants repetition). I absolutely love gardens. And even though I was not blessed with the gift of a ‘green thumb’, (sadly, nothing that I have ever planted ever grows), gardens are one of my most favourite places to visit. Living in different Asian countries has only helped to fuel my love and the child-like wonder I feel when I see or visit a garden. To me a garden is a dome, an actual world to itself, a cacoon that provides shelter to the weary who ventures in from the fast-paced world outside. Ok, so you think I have lost it, I understand. But think about your fore-parents… For those who are in tune with their family history, many may be able to say that their fore-parents tilled the soil or kept a garden of some kind. Maybe, this is the reason for them living longer than today’s generation and with all their mental faculties intact.
Do you still think I am crazy? Ok. Over the recent years, there has been numerous studies that prove that gardens are therapeutic and can be used to mitigate or fight depression and other mental related illnesses.With this in mind, cities across the world are now designing gardens at rapid frequency. In every crevices and corners…on roof tops, inside buildings and even smack in the middle of industrial cities, gardens or ‘green spaces’ (according to Generation Z) can now be found.
For example, in Japan, gardens are havens for people who want to meditate, refocus and relax. In China, people (both young and old) can be found in the gardens mediating, exercising, relaxing or doing Tai Chi. These countries have built huge gardens for its citizens and being a citizen of both countries have taught me to appreciate gardens even more. Today, even doctors are prescribing what is known as eco-therapy or green/nature therapy to their patients. Truth is, I think the rest of the world is only just catching up on what some countries knew all along…that gardens are very beneficial to our mental health.
Relaxation and Rejuvenation
So please, go ahead. Take a seat. If you sit long enough, it feels like the entire world is on pause or has somehow faded into the background. Listen…as the world you once knew is now replaced with the sound of the wind as it playfully runs through the trees rustling the leaves. The songs of the birds suddenly seem to fill the air (No, not suddenly…they were always there). As they join together in chorus, you become captivated by their perfectly sung tune…a free concert in progress.
As the birds take flight, you become drawn to the nearby butterflies skipping from flowers to flowers faultlessly synced. Instantaneously, you are drawn in by the beauty of the flowers. Their array of colors perfectly contrasting the green of the trees and grass and their smell perfumes the air. You inhale and become reminded of a simple yet profound fact that… ‘Beauty can be simple and is found when life is viewed in slow-motion’. …Go ahead; take another breath. Stop and smell the roses…literally.
Ok. Are you still anxious? Still stressed? Still fatigued? If the answer to any of these questions is still yes, take a walk around the park. Sit a little longer. There is still much to see and feel. Just relax and be. To paraphrase John Muir “Nature’s peace will flow into you as the sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness and energy into you and cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn”. Now, if this isn’t therapeutic…I guess I have officially lost it.
Refocus
Our minds are constantly in a state of tug-of-war with the future and past. Every day, we wrestle with what we want to do in the future versus what we didn’t get to accomplish in the past. And most days, we neglect or even forget the present. However, nature has a way of de-stressing us, clearing the fog and haze that so often clogs our mind. By pulling us in, the beauty of the natural environment forces us to leave our daily stressors behind and focus on the simple things that we so easily forget; like the pleasantness of a warm sunny day, luscious green trees and the calming sounds of nature. As nature draws us in further, we are forced to abandon the tug-of-war and are pulled into the present. The here and now; to appreciate and refocus on what’s really important…the present. For let’s face it, if we forget to live in the present; there is no future.
Helpful tips
Ok. If you can accept that I am not delusional, here are a few suggestions to maximize your results. As you go along, you can add your own suggestion to the list or remove; depending on what works or doesn’t for you.
1. Dress comfortably. One way of doing this, is by checking the weather to ensure that your attire is appropriate and that you are fully equipped for the kind of day or evening that the weather may bring. Sunscreen, check. Umbrella, check. Proper footwear, check. Jacket, check…
2. Forget the cellphone. Unless you are doctor on call; you really don’t need to check your cellphone every two minutes. If you don’t suffer from itchy fingers, I suggest putting your phone on vibrate and be present for at least 15 minutes…This might sound harsh but if your world fell apart in fifteen minutes, it wasn’t that strong to begin with.
3. Bring a snack and water. No, you don’t have to go crazy and pack an entire picnic basket. Since there might be no shops/vendors in or even near the park; it is best to be fully equipped. And I don’t know about you but I am not at my best mentally when I am hungry or thirsty.
4. Be safe. For safety purposes, please tell someone where you are going. Some green spaces/gardens are large and may offer small tracks or paths away from the main area. I suggest taking a friend with you to explore these. Another option for those who really need some alone time is to take the path that looks the busiest.
So the next time, you feel anxious, out-of-sorts, depressed or just need to relax and refocus; try nature. It’s free and there are no side effects. Treat yourself to some eco-therapy. Go ahead! I dare you.
About the author:
Kezumie Weekley is a brillant writer with a kind spirit. She has been writing for many years and her work can be seen in the Jamaica Sunday Observer. She has won many awards for her poetry and has recently decided to branch off into Travel Writing. She has a Bachelors Degree in English with an emphasis in Writing. She also has a Masters Degree in Adult and Continuing Education. She has lived in Japan for six years and is now living in China.
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