| In our increasingly hectic and high tech world, it turns | | | | We have an ingrained dependence on our |
| out that a little green can go a long way toward | | | | environment, much like that of any other animal it |
| improving our quality of life! We don't have sell out and | | | | seems, because like other organisms, we evolved to |
| move to a farm in the country, although I can tell you | | | | thrive in our natural surroundings. However, it seems |
| from experience it is a great way to raise kids... even | | | | we have forgotten this natural wisdom, and have |
| something as simple as a walk in a garden can make | | | | ignored the natural intelligence that in truth, has guided |
| a difference for our health. Most understand how | | | | human behavior for centuries. The support that there is |
| exercise contributes to our wellness, but it's not | | | | a dynamic relationship between health and the |
| necessarily the exercise we're missing. It's the | | | | environment is not hard to understand. For example, |
| revitalizing contact with nature and its uncomplicated | | | | when we befoul the air, or otherwise contaminate the |
| demands on us. | | | | environment, it is our own health that we are affecting, |
| Here is how it plays out: Modern life - commuting, | | | | our own bodies that we are polluting. And when we |
| hectic schedules, electronics, plastics, packaging, | | | | spend the bulk of our waking hours indoors, we keep |
| pollutants, and lots of separation from the natural world | | | | ourselves from getting the natural relief we need from |
| - can place strains on our thinking brain and our bodies. | | | | the stresses and strains of our "civilized lifestyles." As |
| The more time we spend indoors, the more time we | | | | evidenced in nature, when animals are taken out of |
| are exposed to unnatural stimulation - indoor lighting, | | | | their natural habitats, they begin to degrade mentally |
| electromagnetic radio waves, and numerous household | | | | and physically - parenting skills decline, aggression |
| products/chemicals, low levels of traffic-related | | | | increases and playful activity stops. These same |
| particles and gases such as radon and carbon | | | | symptoms can be seen in particularly stressed human |
| monoxide, mold...just to name a few! Additionally, the | | | | populations, and sadly, we likely do not need to look |
| more time spent in indoor settings, the more we see | | | | further than our own communities to see it for |
| ourselves as separate from nature. | | | | ourselves. |
| Consequently, the more we perceive ourselves as | | | | As Dr. Michael Cohen writes in his book- Reconnecting |
| separate from nature, the more we feel a need to | | | | with Nature: Finding wellness through restoring your |
| conquer nature... thus the slippery slope of destroying | | | | bond with the Earth (2007): Our lives do not make |
| our planet and feeling justified in doing it! Keep in mind | | | | sense and our problems flourish because industrial |
| that our separation from nature is merely a perception; | | | | society does not teach us to seek, honor, and culture |
| our minds trick us into thinking that we do not need | | | | nature's contributions to our lives. We learn instead to |
| nature, when in fact our lives depend on it. We, as | | | | conquer, to separate from, and deny the time-tested |
| organic beings, will always be integral with the rest of | | | | love, intelligence and balance found the natural world (p. |
| the natural, organic universe - physically, psychologically, | | | | 13). |
| and spiritually; we live, think, feel, breath in our earth | | | | It's time for a GREEN check-up! How does your green |
| suits (our bodies) and as a result, cannot truly be | | | | relationship measure up? If you (and the people you |
| separate from nature - only disconnected. Not only | | | | love) need more green, it can easily be found through |
| does this illusion allow us to deceive ourselves that we | | | | the Growing Green Hands program. Learn more and |
| can ignore consequences that damage our | | | | begin to reconnect with nature with the support from |
| environment-we close our eyes to the fact that our | | | | Growing Green Hands, Inc. (GGH). The GGH |
| physical, psychological, spiritual disconnection from | | | | programming will help by providing mentoring |
| nature is the source of much of our modern problems | | | | relationships, education, and most importantly, |
| and ills. | | | | experiential outdoor experiences. |