My cousin, Juliet Gore is a natural genius! Not to mention philosopher, artist, great cook and art therapist. My visits to Adelaide are wonderful, because I often have time to share with she and her amazing husband. As we meander over her spectacular meals, we discuss all sorts of life issues.
Last week, it was stress and the pace of life. We were talking about the complexity of many solutions offered to combat stress and she came up with the classic statement, "Why don't people just go into the garden and STAY there until they feel better'?
The more I thought about this the more sense it made. We find ourselves in situations where we are tense , terse and testy and we stomp around or shout at people. Which gets us , and the others involved, nowhere. So what's the point? Why not escape the situation and draw breath?
Many people believe that escaping is not the answer - and in some of situations it's not. But the way we live life these days often puts us in pressure scenarios in which we can't think clearly. And we say or do things we regret. Short term escape to the garden has loads of advantages!
For example, being in the garden grounds us - literally and metaphorically. We are so busy 'flying' around , doing ten things and thinking about fifty problems simultaneously that we forget some basic principles of life. Like we are human 'beings' not human 'doings'- we need to stop and 'be' for a while. And the garden is a really great place to just 'be'.
Make sure you go barefoot into the garden and stand on the grass - not the bricks or cement! Feel the softness of the grass underfoot - enjoy the sensation. (Make sure there are no bees, bull ants, prickles or other stinging insects!) . Lie down and let the warmth of the sun seep into your body - this escape is much more pleasurable on a sunny day! Wear a hat to cover your face but sun on your clothes is safe!
Breathe deeply and focus on inhaling the wonderful smells of the grass, trees and flowers. (If you suffer from hay fever , this stress busting solution may not be the one for you!) The olfactory system (big word meaning smell system) has a direct and therefore powerful, connection to our brains. Have you ever wandered past someone in the street who is wearing the same perfume/after shave an old flame wore? Immediately , you are transported back to that time. Or you smell roast chicken or apple pie and memories of Sunday lunches at Granny's place flood into your mind.
John Gray (author of Men are From Mars , Women are from Venus - a great book) says that it's a smart idea to wear a 'special' perfume or after shave every time you make love to your partner. It then becomes a powerful aphrodisiac and signal to your lover when you wear it on any other occasion - as foreplay! So, take time to really smell the garden.
I was watching "The Private Life of Plants' on the ABC on Sunday night and it's a spectacular program. Wonderful photography captured what really was an exciting life. Create your own program - carefully examine the flowers and plants, observe the life that goes on around them. Look at how bees and other insects work with the plant kingdom to cross pollinate. Watch the ants and determine their tasks. Find out the role of lizards in your garden. Watch the flowers opening up or closing down. Some plants you can actually watch grow!
The wonder of nature can fill another couple of hours. Look at the myriad of colors; where do those fantastic rich reds, purples, and greens come from? How do flowers come in such delicate colors , let alone such extraordinary shapes and sizes ? What about the shapes of leaves - and how do they know when to change color? What makes branches grow where they do?
Listen to the sounds in the garden - palm leaves rustling in the wind; then hum of the wind in the trees; birds serenading each other; crickets and cicadas calling out; sometimes there appears to be silence, yet if we tune in there is a symphony going on around us. (That was poetic for me! Must be the impact of the garden I'm sitting in as i write this!)
Gardening is a fascinating pastime! Not just for 'oldies'. More people I know are turning to gardening because it makes them feel so good. Not only do they find the physical work satisfying, they love to watch the fruits of their labor blossom (literally!). It's like planting children and watching them grow! I know because every time one of my precious bulbs bursts forth , I get so excited, I have a mini celebration! I also wander around and talk to my plants. (I DO have friends, it's just I like to talk to my plants!)
It's also a way to develop and enhance creativity. Planning a garden, the shape , colors, sizes and then making it happen is a terrific way of using the right side of your brain - which allows the poor old over worked left side of your brain to have a rest. You may find that you are more creative about problem solving after a serious bout of gardening!
If you don't have a garden then do the same in a park or with pot plants! It works nearly as well. Or if the garden isn't for you, visit the beach and listen to the waves; or be wrapped in a rain forest ; or an isolated and nature rich spot like Kangaroo Island.
Whatever your preference, regularly escape and recharge your batteries by immersing yourself in a favorite place. The moral of this whole article and the trick to maximising the relaxing effect is to focus completely on what is around you - and not what's going on inside you. Use all your senses - smell, see, hear , feel and taste the wonder of whatever it is around you. And, as Jules says, stay there until you feel better!
