by Peggy West

Nature is a great way to ground yourself and find balance in life. It becomes therapy for when you are experiencing times of stress, sadness, trauma, or grief. Spending time in nature promotes positive emotions and can serve as a natural mood booster.

Some of my favourite things to do in the bush are going for nature walks, sitting by the fire and having a tea, taking pictures of sunsets and flowers, listening to birds and rustling trees in the wind, or even standing in the rain. There are endless things to do in the bush. In winter, you can also go snowshoeing, ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, or if the snow isn’t too deep, just a simple walk. 

Learning to breathe properly can also help in reducing stress. It might sound silly – but many people don’t know how to breathe. First, you need to take a deep breath using your diaphragm, and then exhale through your mouth. Sometimes all you need is to be in nature and taking a deep breath to help regulate your nervous system or"fight-or-flight" response.

Being in nature doesn’t mean you have to be out in the boonies or out in the bush. Nature is everywhere – in the city, outside your front door, or by the river. You can be outside anywhere, and you will always find nature. Some people grow gardens in their balconies, while others simply embrace the new growth in the spring time. 

Another way I ground myself is through culture. I was born on the land, and everything we did was a part of nature. Eating the traditional foods nurtures us, as they are pure and from the land. The air and the water is clean and natural. However, I don’t live in the bush anymore, but I still live my life that way, and just thinking about it nurtures me.

As a little girl, my family and I would pick berries and whip it up into ice cream. We would eat moose meat, fish, beaver, and lynx. I also used to lay by the lake, or walk along the shore looking for rocks. I still do these things today, as it reconnects me.

I think nature helps us heal because it’s a part of us. Nature is alive, and it helps lift our spirit. Everything has a spirit, and that same spirit that keeps nature alive is within ourselves too. Whether you believe that spirit is in your mind, your heart, your hands – wherever you want it to be – you always have it. Plants need water to live. For us, we need to nurture our spirit, and there’s no better way than by being in nature.