As the world goes passing by in front of me,
I sit and stare into infinity,
The vast expanse embraces my whole being,
Struck by its beauty, it gives meaning,
To a life half-lived
In the chaos of the city,
all caught up in the nitty gritty.

As I sit atop a mountain,
I come back to life
My soul awakens, and my spirit soars,
Nature always opens its doors,
To heal and nourish,
and uplift me high,
Oh, the world goes passing by... 
                                                 Bhavika

These words, penned down after our travel to the Mountains, describe my close affinity for nature, and when I am away from it, in the lap of the manmade jungle, life seems to go haywire, the mind and soul yearn for a fulfilling existence. 

Florence Nightingale, English social reformer, statistician, and the founder of modern nursing, organized care for wounded soldiers at Constantinople and significantly reduced death rates by improving hygiene and living standards. She observed that when patients received flowers, apart from feeling uplifted, it alleviated their illness and physical suffering. 

“I shall never forget the rapture of fever patients over a bunch of bright-colored flowers. I remember (in my own case) a nosegay of wild flowers being sent me, and from that moment recovery becoming more rapid.” 

Even Oliver Sacks, neurologist, spoke about the healing power of nature and its calming effects on his neurologically impaired patients. 

“I cannot say exactly how nature exerts its calming and organizing effects on our brains, but I have seen in my patients the restorative and healing powers of nature and gardens, even for those who are deeply disabled neurologically. In many cases, gardens and nature are more powerful than any medication… The effects of nature’s qualities on health are not only spiritual and emotional but physical and neurological. I have no doubt that they reflect deep changes in the brain’s physiology, and perhaps even its structure.”

Nature and gardens are living spaces where sacredness resides in the flowers, plants, trees, bees, and birds. What has your experience been in nature? How does it make you feel?      

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