13 Comments

I strongly agree with this advice. Interestingly, I read somewhere that green colours are activating of the calming part of the nervous system/brain.

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That is interesting, Gary. Now that you mention it, I vaguely recall hearing something about green being a calming color, too.

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Found it, is from Dr Iain McGilchrist's work ... "The perception of color in mental imagery activates the right hemisphere, not the left... right is more attuned to color discrimination..."

"... the right prefers green, and the left red".

"The lack of appreciation for color (and music) is also common [in folks with early trauma, which often gets identified only upon healing: "colors seem more vivid" is a frequent observation in those in recovery. Walking in nature (green) is known to be a highly beneficial therapy."

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Thanks, it’s nice to know research backs up my experience of walking in nature being highly beneficial!

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Nov 7, 2022Liked by Wendi Gordon

I've often sought out "pocket parks" which are in unexpected places in the community. They're found around hospital, churches and tucked into neighborhoods, and hold a place to sit, plants, flowers and sometimes a water feature. I also look for garden centers. Within 30 min. of home is Independence, TX, home of The Rose Emporium. Lovely grounds, walking paths and inspiration abounding among salvaged cabins with cottage gardens and a small chapel.

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Melissa, the park I visit most often is a “pocket park” with a pond. I love watching the animals (birds, squirrels, turtles, rabbits, and butterflies) and it has lots of great trees, too.

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Important words, Wendi. Thank you.

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Beautiful post! My favorite place is Percy Warner State Park, it's a 30 min drive from my house just outside of Nashville, TN. It's a beautiful forest with a paved path, and I love to bring my dog there. Being in a forest is always my happy place, and I feel so relaxed when we're there :) great pictures btw!

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Thanks for your comment, and I’m glad you have a state park near you and find walking in the forest as relaxing as I do.

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Looks and sounds lovely! So nice to be connected with you now.

My special place is the beach. The Wadden Sea is sandy and flat and I love to be outside with my toddler and hubby and exploring the shore.

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Thanks, Kristina. The beach (well, actually the undersea world) is my favorite place, too. I wish my husband and I could have afforded to live the rest of our lives on Maui, but am very glad we got to spend 10 years there! In fact, I’m currently writing a photo essay for Medium about the awesome sunsets over the ocean we saw in Hawaii.

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Oh wonderful! I love Hawaii and Maui. We spent our honeymoon there :D

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In case you haven’t already seen them, I have several photo essays about Maui and Hawaii on Medium. Two of them feature my best underwater photos and one features my photos of gorgeous tropical flowers in Hawaii.

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