Recently a few friends and I traveled to Greenbrier. For those who don’t know, Greenbrier is part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It’s a beautiful place with magnificent river spots and tons to explore. It’s also an amazing location to unwind and connect with nature…which is really what I’ve needed to get rid of the stress I’ve been going through.
Emotional state: happy…tired
Mental state: huh…what?
Life is hard; that’s the damn truth. Whoever said life was easy was obviously lying. Life isn’t what you think it will be. Ever. When you’re growing up, you have these big expectations about how you want your future to turn out. You think you know exactly how things are going to go. You have goals in mind and you’re ready to tackle whatever comes your way no matter what. But…
Things don’t always work out the way we planned. Adult issues hit us in the face before we’re even ready to become an adult. That nagging age of 17 rings our necks with stress about what it means to be an adult…and you’re not even to that point yet!
Life knocks you down. You fall hard and discover things like mental illness, exhaustion, terrible people, horrible jobs, and the worst feelings you ever thought possible. Yet, at the same time you find freedom, security, happiness, and most of all, love. It’s a strange world, but that’s just how it is.
So, when it comes to dealing with the terrible parts, what should we do? Personally, my favorite thing when I’m down, stressed, panicked, or whatever, is just to get lost in nature. (Not literally lost, but you get the idea.)
Just go somewhere green. Look for the trees, plants, flowers, rivers, birds, and butterflies. Just go somewhere and be surrounded by all that life. Take it in and breathe the fresh air. Let it soak in your lungs like a warm mist. Just completely let go.
It seems magical…and it is. It’s amazing what nature can do to help heal our minds and bodies. It has the power to make us better. We live on a wonderful planet full of amazing things. Nature, in itself is beautiful and vibrant, always.
So, if you’re stressed, depressed, anxious, or all of the above, consider a trip to the greener side of life. Take a walk or just relax by a river. If you live in a place where it’s not possible to do so, it might be a good idea to start thinking about a road trip. The body does good with fresh air and so does your soul. 🙂
Blessed Be )0(
Oddly Me 
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