Nature is the absolute key to happiness.
From climbing Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka to walking in the fields of Oxfordshire — from a tropical beach to my local river — being outside is one of our only guarantees of peace and contentment.
We are, after all, animals that traditionally were born into the wild. So it’s only natural that a lot of us feel at ‘home’ in nature.
Today I drove four friends to Pen y Fan in Wales, where we climbed a peak of about 830m. In my running shoes and jeans I wasn't particularly well equipped, but even falling into the river (👋) was worth it for the serotonin release at the top.
Eating lunch in the middle of a snowstorm might be a nightmare for some, but was the peak (ha) of the day for me. The view was simply beautiful, and even better knowing that I had pushed myself to get to that point.
What was especially nice was not being able to see the road. If you get high enough, you can even pretend there aren't little cars racing below — the crisp air and clean wind would certainly make it seem so.
As all good Bristol students should, we took an ‘edgy’ photo at the (almost) top:
Arriving back (peeling off wet socks), I really felt like I had done something with my day. I generally feel happier, more aware, and more grounded after outdoor reflection.
There are even facts to support these feelings. The January issue of the National Geographic tells us that contact with nature can improve creativity by up to 50%, while ‘forest walks’ can decrease stress hormones by 16%.
I always advise friends who talk about mental health struggles to travel if possible — and now I add that a day or two in the ‘wild’ (even as wild as the Brecon Beacons) can be just as beneficial.
Good old National Geographic also said that in 2009 a Dutch study found a lower incidence of diseases (including depression and anxiety) in people living within half a mile of green space. Apparently, just having that option can sometimes be enough.
And if all this doesn’t convince you, here’s a funny advert for nature as the ‘cure’ that my friend sent me:
https://www.facebook.com/foodmatters/videos/10153093503031570/
