The Gentle Power of Forest Bathing

When I was a little girl, I spent my Sunday evenings watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. I loved watching the zoologists and biologists venture out into the wild. They would meander through forests and jungles, searching for the little creatures that roam the Earth.

What always captivated me most were the vast skies surrounding them. The brilliant blue overhead, the white clouds drifting among the treetops. It all felt so breathtaking. Even as a child, I remember thinking, "How amazing it would be to just sit and gaze at the sky, watching those fluffy clouds float across that endless blue backdrop." So cool!

And today, I get to do exactly that.

The photo above was taken from my own yard here in the Pacific Northwest. This is my view. And I feel so lucky to have this moment to simply look up and take it all in.

Forest Bathing

There’s a Japanese practice called Shinrin Yoku, which translates to “forest bathing.” It’s not about exercise, or getting somewhere, or even identifying the plants around you. It’s simply about being in the presence of trees and nature. Allowing yourself to be held by the stillness. Breathing in the forest air, feeling the texture of bark beneath your fingers, the softness of the moss beneath your feet, while listening to the rhythm of birdsong and rustling leaves.

Science has caught up to what many of us already know: our time in nature heals. Forest bathing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, improves mood, boosts immunity, and even enhance our capacity for joy and creativity. It invites us to slow down, to come back to ourselves, and to feel our connection with the living world around us.

I’ve started to think of forest bathing as essential as brushing our teeth or drinking enough water. Nature offers us this beautiful sanctuary, not because it demands anything of us, but because it reminds us of who we are when all the noise drops away and we become truly present.

An Invitation

So today, I invite you to step outside, even if it's just for a few minutes. Walk slowly. Breathe deeply. Look up into the beautiful, blue sky. There’s a healing there that no pill, book, or podcast can offer.

This is forest bathing. This is remembering who I am, where I came from, and where I ended up.

Here's to more, peaceful days of dreams fulfilled.

Lori