The Healing Power of Nature
Note from Jamie
I like to share things that light me up, fill me with joy, and make my life easier. Nothing is sponsored. These are just things that are helping me along my journey.
The Healing Power of Nature
Lately, I’ve been craving fresh air in a way that feels essential. Not like a luxury, but like something my whole body is asking for. Maybe you’ve felt it too—that pull to step outside, breathe a little deeper, and let the sun or breeze remind you that you’re alive.
This past week, as I’ve moved through waves of grief, nature has been one of my greatest comforts. I’ve been reminded—again and again—of how deeply healing it can be to simply be outside. To ground my feet on the Earth. To feel held by the trees, the sky, the soft rhythm of the natural world.
Last weekend, our daughter Emma had volleyball tryouts. If you’ve ever been through the club sports scene, you know how intense those environments can be—crowded gyms, buzzing nerves, emotional stakes. But just down the road from one of the clubs, there was a quiet forest. So, Scott and I went for a walk.
We wandered under a canopy of green, our feet crunching on gravel, our breath slowing with the pace of the trail. I noticed wildflowers. Sunlight slipping through leaves. A kind of stillness that felt sacred. Hopeful.
It was such a stark contrast to the energy inside the gym. In the forest, everything felt slower. More reverent. More true.
On Tuesday, Scott and I practiced yoga in the park—just a short walk from the edge of Lake Michigan. As I laid on the grass, looking up at the sky, I felt a gentle power move through me. The breeze, the warmth of the Earth beneath me, the wide open space—it was all so nourishing.
When I meet with friends lately, I often invite them on a “Walk & Talk.” Instead of sitting across from one another at a table, we walk side by side under open skies. These walks naturally invite a deeper kind of conversation. Something about moving in nature makes it easier to open up. To skip the small talk and step into something more honest, more vulnerable, more real.
And maybe it’s not just the beauty of nature that makes this possible—maybe it’s also the way our nervous systems respond to it. Research shows that even a few minutes outside can lower cortisol (our stress hormone), reduce anxiety, and improve mood.
Being in nature increases activity in the parts of our brain associated with empathy, presence, and calm.
But even without the studies, we know this. We feel this.
There’s wisdom in the trees. In the cycles of the moon. In the rhythm of waves or the quiet of a trail.
Throughout my day, I take small outdoor moments—a short walk down the cul-de-sac, a few minutes with my face lifted to the sun, or a quiet breath under the moonlight. These rituals don’t take much time, but they always leave me feeling a little more grounded, a little more whole.
Nature invites us to return to ourselves. To slow down. To heal.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, untethered, or just a little off—step outside. Breathe in. Look up. Let the Earth remind you that you’re not alone. You’re supported. You’re held.
And that healing can be as simple as putting your feet on the ground.
With love,
Jamie
Inspiration
Nourish Pick of the Week
If you’re heading outside to soak up some of nature’s healing magic, don’t forget your Bug Spray.
It’s one of our summer essentials—powered by pure, plant-based ingredients to keep the bugs away so you can enjoy the beauty, not the bites.
Workout of the Week
A Gentle Yoga Practice for Stress + Anxiety Relief
This 20-minute yoga flow is designed to support anyone carrying stress, anxiety, or tension—whether it’s in your body, your heart, or your mind.
I leaned on this practice in the tender days after my sister passed. It helped me soften, breathe, and return to myself.
Use it before bed or anytime you need a quiet moment to ground and rebalance.
Recipe of the Week
This week’s recipe is a special one, lovingly shared by my neighbor Linnea —a professional baker with generations of Swedish tradition in her hands and heart.
Linnea’s family has been making this crisp, cinnamon-topped treat for decades.
Skorpa is perfect for dipping in your morning coffee or a cozy cup of tea. It’s simple, nostalgic, and full of love.
Live well. Be kind.
Jamie
