Nature Cry's for You, 100 Women Who Care, Matchmakers
Come, put the kettle on and let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.
We are home now from our little excursion to St. Andrews. Celebrating 33 years married. We had a lovely weekend sitting on this deck.
This week I loved hearing about the Serenity Park for Veterans. My hats off to the “100 Women Who Care” for supporting this project. Read more about the story here.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” — Anne Lamott
It is fair to say that we all need more time in nature.
When I started to tug on the little thread of thought, I remembered reading an article last fall, called, “Girls and Women Need More Time in Nature to be Healthy.”
Below is a taste of what the article had to say.
Flowers, trees, and water
Seven research participants explored their health, nutrition, and physical activity experiences through photographs. Then discussed in a group, and look for themes or trends.
They found themes relating to challenging norms and stereotypes and to the importance of social support and confidence. They discussed their perceptions that “everything is gendered” and that there are activities girls are “supposed to do.” They talked about sometimes feeling excluded from sports dominated by boys, and expectations around what girls should wear while being active.
They also discussed how they challenge those norms. The girls, for example, took photos engaging in non-traditional physical activities like aerial circus silks and climbing trees in skirts. They also stressed the importance of support from friends and family to feel safe in challenging norms. There was also a surprising finding: the emphasis they placed on being outside in nature.
Although nature and the environment were not part of the intended research purpose, being outside emerged as important. Many of the girls and young women shared photos of natural elements, like flowers, trees and water.
They also took photos of themselves, their friends and families engaging in physical activity outside. This most often included general active outdoor play, but also, more specifically, activities like hiking and camping.
We learned that nature provided important context for these girls and young women to feel comfortable, safe and confident to navigate the complex gender norms around physical activity.
I love nature and desire to spend more time in it as well. It is in my nature. Earth is our home, and nature gives us so many gifts.
I remember a hundred lovely lakes and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees. The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets. It has given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day. It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful. Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me — I am happy. ~Hamlin Garland, McClure’s, February 1899
Wishing a great weekend a nice week ahead.
I certainly thank you taking your time to read my blog this morning.
Today I have been listening to Mozart: Piano Sonatas play by Lars Vogt
From Prince Edward Island with Love!
Take care of each other.
Bruce
ps.
A young lady visited a computer dating service and requested, "I'm looking for a spouse. Can you please help me to find a suitable one?"
The matchmaker said, "What exactly are you looking for?"
"Well, let me see. Needs to be good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good at singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour if I don't go out. Be able to tell me interesting stories when I need a companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest."
The matchmaker entered the information into the computer and, in a matter of moments, handed the results to the woman: "Buy a television."
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