Shinrin-yoku - Forest Bathing

 Shinrin-yoku was a term coined by Tomohide Akiyama (director of Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) in 1982.

Forest Bathing is the act of spending time in the woods to focus on sensory engagement, connect with nature and I think, to find reflections of yourself in it.

Before coming to know it as forest bathing, I called it "going to sniff the woods". And while I didn't know there was true scientific research verifying terpenoids (essential oils released by trees) as treatments providing analgesic, sedative, bronchodilator, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and relaxing effects - I did notice that time spent in the woods left one feeling mentally and physically better off.

So in recognition of how the trees contribute to my life ... and the whole planet, we have tree pics today.

Wyoming

Argentina

Brazil

Nice Lake, Wisconsin

Rocky Mountain National Park

Nice Lake, Wisconsin

Wisconsin North Woods

Telluride, Colorado

Granby, Colorado

Aspen, Colorado

Canyon City, Colorado

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen, Colorado

Bend, Oregon

Spain

Long's Peak, Colorado

Mt Taranaki, NZ

New Plymouth, NZ

New Plymouth, NZ

Guilin, China

Lijang River, China

Yangshuo, China

Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Central Park, NYC

NYC, New York

Gore Valley, Colorado

Panama Canal, Panama

Boulder, CO 

Boulder, CO 

Golden Gate Canyon State Park, CO

Butterfly Sunday

With a hankering to take photos and not much patience for a long drive or a complicated plan, we decided to revisit the Butterfly Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. It had been 10 years, after all. 

I have zero problem dodging little ones and their caregivers as we all vie for the best view of flutter-by's. Learning to look but not touch is a valuable lesson and getting it early seems good, am I right?!

Plus, even adults are getting an education here. When I wasn't concentrating on camera settings and rather unforgiving light amidst the leaves, I was listening.  :)

And then a little slice of magic... connection, actual connection with a most beautiful butterfly who's life began somewhere way south of the USA and who's destiny brought him to this butterfly enclosure at the same time, it brought me here. 

We hung out for a bit ... walked and talked. Then as I tried to prod him into a new resting spot in a tree, he said goodbye and fluttered away. It was time for us to go too.