I need a huge favor, pretty please.

[Jamastiene]

I'd love to see all of DU try this, even if we don't all do it at one time.

The favor:
Just take an hour of of your weekend to go outside and see nature in all its beauty.

Even if you are in the city, maybe you can find a lake or a park...

Even if you are busy and cannot do it on the same day as the Sioux Prayer Request (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/event.php?eid=122931147731700&ref=mf) ...

Even if you are not religious...

Even if you hate the outdoors...

Please take the time to just sit there and connect with nature in some way. If all you do is sit there and look at trees and birds and the grass under you, it is worth it. I mean really take the time to do it. An hour is a good goal. It is probably long enough to slow your body's rhythm to that of nature. If not, take longer if you can and/or want to.

I know it's largely symbolic and won't do jack shit to fix all the problems we as a species have caused this planet. I completely understand that some people will think it is an incredibly stupid idea that will do nothing, but for those who can and are willing to try, I'd really appreciate it if you will.

This is actually a good wish for DUers. If you get the same thing out of it that I do when I do it, you'll know afterward why it is a good wish for others to experience it. If not, no harm, no foul. Maybe, you'll get something else out of it that is equally good.

Thank you for reading. If you do it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

[JuniperLea]

1. I do this every weekend...

I don't think I could remain sane in this world if I didn't!

Every Saturday and Sunday morning I spend at least an hour here...



I walk approx. 4 miles in the sand, with my dogs... I feel recharged!

Great OP! Rec'd!

[Jamastiene]

2. It's a feeling I wish everyone could feel.

It's truly special. :hug:

[JuniperLea]

3. Me too!

It's good to know others realize this!

:hug:

Thank you for spreading the good vibes! It's truly a spiritual experience...

[K8-EEE]

33. Beautiful photo, what beach is that? n/t

[NJCher]

4. I think I read

Where even 5 minutes a day spent out of doors significantly decreased depression in people.



Cher

[Jamastiene]

8. I'd definitely believe that.

Since I have started doing it as often as I can, my depression has definitely been decreased. :thumbsup:

[Scuba]

5. I do this every day. Thanks.

[Jamastiene]

9. It's great, isn't it?

:)

[Scuba]

16. Yep. I sit in my back yard....

...overlooking a small marsh. Reeds waving in the breeze, redwing blackbirds fluttering, the occasional pheasant. This morning I watched a small grass snake hunting for a morsel.

Then I cried thinking about the Gulf and the life there being destroyed, from the largest seabirds to the microscopic life on which the entire food chain depends. At 61 years it's been a long time since I cried (at my father-in-law's funeral), but I'm afraid life on earth as we know it is near the end.

The earth will survive in the long run, I suppose. Mankind doesn't deserve this beautiful planet.

[zipplewrath]

6. Golf course count?

Gonna spend about 4 hours there tomorrow.


Actually, the wife and I are big walkers and we go for a long walk at least once each weekend. Weather permitting we're gonna lap a large lake around here on Sunday.

[Jamastiene]

7. Yup.

I don't see why not. There is nature all around a golf course. They are peaceful places. :)

[el_bryanto]

10. Walking my dog gets me closer to nature

Kind of a pity she is so determined to attack the various squirrels and birds that cross our path.

You cannot go against nature
Because when you do
Go against nature
It's part of nature too
- Love and Rockets "No New Tale to Tell"

Bryant

[TorchTheWitch]

18. noticed that myself

Sometimes I think the dog walking ritual is more for my benefit than his. My favorite time is late at night (more like the wee hours of the morning) when it's so quiet and peaceful... the bunnies are snoozing in the grass, the foxes and various rodents are on the prowl, you can actually hear the burbling of the creek without all the traffic noise of daytime drowning it out and there's not a soul around causing any distraction.

[NJCher]

28. I think

that study I mentioned above talked about dog walkers. They may have based their study on them.


Cher

[Altoid_Cyclist]

11. Beautiful suggestion!

I try to get out as much as possible anyway, but with the disaster in the Gulf, sometimes it's a good idea to be reminded that at times we take nature for granted.

This is where I spend a lot of time every chance that I get. Canoe Creek State Park near Altoona, PA.

http://www.jvas.org/ccsp_site_guide.html

If you're lucky, you can even see these critters. It's something that you never forget.

[Jamastiene]

19. I'll never forget my first eagle.

I couldn't stop looking up with my mouth hanging open in awe. I loved it!

[1776Forever]

12. I remember my father saying one day when I was about 5, "Look up and see the sky."

I never forgot that. A lot of people don't really "see" anything but their small little world. There is so much beauty to enjoy if we just open our eyes to it.

Thank you for the post! I think city kids that don't get out of their neighborhoods miss out on so much. The Salvation Army here has a camp for them to go to each year. I think it is a great program!

[Jamastiene]

21. Your father was so right.

If we don't take some time to stop and pay attention, it is our loss.

[Arugula Latte]

36. Have you heard of the book "Last Child in the Woods"?

It's about the disconnect between children and nature.
http://richardlouv.com/

[Greyhound]

13. I do it all the time except this time of year. We're over 100 and will not cool off until

October, maybe November.

Great idea for everyone that doesn't live in hell, though!
:kick: & R

[Jamastiene]

23. That is understandable.

It would be best to do it when you can safely do it...without dying from heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

[NeedleCast]

14. That's an easy one

but still a great idea.

[Birthmark]

15. I live in Nature at the moment.

The electricity and phones are chancy, the internet hook-up execrable --but there are more than ample compensations.

[Are_grits_groceries]

17. Thank you for that! nt

[annabanana]

20. We are creatures of the Earth. It is good to get out there long enough

to remember that. We and the Earth are of the same stuff.

[flvegan]

22. Rec #38. Good post.

[defendandprotect]

24. Unfortunately, we are now in midst of a scorcher here in NJ . . .

spring was pretty good -- but no one has wanted to be out the last few days!

:)

[waiting for hope]

25. K&R

Wonderful good wishes Jamastiene. :)

[tavalon]

26. I live in Seattle and consider myself incredibly blessed

I actually use our abundant beauty as my personal depression monitor. If my breath doesn't catch in my throat when I see Mt. Rainier or I stop noticing the beauty of the trees and the many different kinds of bushes and flowers, then I know that my head is getting messed up again. It's better than doing a written daily depression log (anyone who deals with lifelong depression knows those stupid logs).

I'll do this happily tomorrow afternoon after I get up. I like the idea of being more in touch rather than just surrounded by nature.

[Lugnut]

27. I live with nature's glory every day.

Here in the Pocono mountains of Northeastern PA it's impossible to avoid.

[Maraya1969]

29. I thank my gardenia everyday now since it has started to bloom

I seriously do. I have planted a lot of things around my house and I look at them a lot, even through the windows and I feel grateful that they are there.

[Codeine]

30. Will there be WiFi?

;)

[Cleita]

32. Sometimes.

I live in a place of natural beauty and there are pockets of WiFi you can get here and there.

[profile this]

31. Thank You

I'm going to give this idea to my 15 year old. She is the president of her go green club at school and she finds it hard to get others involved. This coming school year, she is focusing on getting other teens to appreciate nature and all it's beauty. Hopefully, this exercise will help. Thank you for sharing.

[K8-EEE]

34. On a related note, I've recently stopped taking my IPOD with me

hiking....actually, IT BROKE! But I've noticed an added benefit from an hour totally "unplugged" and don't intent to go back to using it.

[Arugula Latte]

35. I'd say nature IS my religion.

I'm going outside now to dig my hands in the dirt. :)

[jp11]

37. One of the better posts not about government/news etc. Thank you for that.

[underseasurveyor]

38. You never know when you will be gifted to see a beauty like this in your wanderings

Crysaora colorata

One of my favorite things I do is working in Newport Beach Bay/Marina collecting light and water quality data. Sometimes I'm gifted with crossing paths with one of natures beautiful works of art. I'm tellin' ya being out on the water... it's the BEST 'office job' in the world:-)