Have you ever wondered why we seek solace in nature when we need to unwind, rejuvenate, or simply find peace? Activities like hiking, camping, or taking a short walk are often associated with vacations or breaks from our routine lives. We naturally gravitate towards being surrounded by trees, forests, or any other natural setting when we feel stressed or anxious. Why is this?
Human civilization has unfortunately become greatly disconnected from the freedom and beauty of nature as the centuries have progressed since we first learned to farm. We no longer walk at a leisurely pace of 3 miles per hour to reach our destinations. Instead, we opt for faster modes of transportation, such as driving or riding at high speeds, prioritizing quickness over experiencing the environment of where we live as each step connects us with each present moment. If we stopped for a moment to reflect upon how we live today that is out of step with how humans have lived for most of our existence, we could easily create a long list which tells us we have grown vastly disconnected from a natural way of living.
Jonathon Stalls walked across the United States as a fundraiser for KIVA. He has an excellent Ted Talk which goes deeper into the idea of walking as a way for us to connect with how we were fundamentally made to move and think – Life at 3 MPH:
