Nature is My Battery

We have a mad lady on our doorstep. Mad I say. She is headed up the East Coast and she is bringing a deluge of water and wind destruction as she takes her journey. Whether she actually passes over our little neck of the woods is still be determined. But Debby is headed north, and we are north. Bring it on Debby.

So I am preparing. Gas in the cars. My small battery/battery cells are charging. All my mobile devices and chargers and camping lights are plugged in … they are getting a full load. I have some food ready and some camping equipment to prepare them. While the power grid is up, I am getting all the devices ready.

But what about me? What about you? Life can throw us and drain us and leave a path of destruction on the body and soul. How do we charge up … us.

For me, it’s the outside. Oh, I love the air condition. I love the occasional nap on the couch. I love binging TV and reading and studying. But there is something about walking a trail … no vehicles or city sounds … no deadlines except nightfall … no phone calls to return, emails to read, meetings to attend.

Bugs … Boulders … Birds … Bears(?) …

Nature recharges me. in the words of the noted theologian …

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I’d give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I’d tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

Sunshine almost all the time makes me high

So let’s get a little technical. From an article by Medical News Today, there are great benefits to SunShine …

It brings Vitamin D that helps in …

• supporting healthy bones
• managing calcium levels
• reducing inflammation
• supporting the immune system and glucose metabolism

It also helps with …

• lowering blood pressure
• fights type 1 diabetes
• fights multiple sclerosis
• helps against certain type of cancers

And the UVB rays aid in …

• promoting a sensation of well-being and improving mood
• boosting the immune system
• relieving pain
• promoting relaxation
• helping wounds heal
• helping people feel more alert
• increasing job satisfaction (when a person’s workplace has access to sunlight)
• reducing depression

With all of this … I need to get outside more.Basically, Nature is my battery. Let’s all get outside and recharge.