wisewords


Richard Louv’s Well-Being Rx: Reconnect with Nature


by April Thompson I


f it’s true that people are self-inter- ested creatures at heart, journalist Richard Louv has a message for humankind: Think not only what we can do for nature, but what nature can do for us. Louv’s seminal book, Last Child


in the Woods, launched a national dialogue about the disconnection be- tween children and nature, a state he calls nature-deficit disorder. Now, in The Nature Principle, Louv vividly por- trays how a nature-infused lifestyle can enhance the quality of our health and relationships, benefiting every facet of experience. He asserts that the more high-tech our lives become, the more nature we need, and offers a roadmap to a future that incorporates nature into every aspect of our lives, from our homes to our workplaces. The recipient of the 2008 Audu- bon Medal, Louv is the author of eight books and the founder of the Children & Nature Network.


You cite many instances of nature’s power to heal and restore us mentally, emotionally, physically and even intellectually. How does science account for this?


Healers have known about the im- portance of nature to our health and well-being for thousands of years, but only in recent years have scientists begun to study the benefits of what I call, “vitamin N.” Still, the preliminary


24 SeattleAwakenings.com


research indicates overwhelmingly positive correlations between human health and intelligence and nature. For example, a University of


Illinois study of urban children with at- tention deficit disorder found that even a little exposure to nature can have a positive effect on ADD. Several other studies indicate that walking in natural areas improves our mental and physi- cal health. Researchers from Sweden and England that compared exercising in indoor and outdoor settings learned that expending the same amount of


energy in these different environments provides different results, with green exercise offering added value. Science can’t yet tell us the causes and mecha- nisms behind these correlations, yet we know enough to act. Technology permeates every as-


pect of our lives today. A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that American youth spend an average of 53 hours a week using entertainment media. So we have to consciously bring more na- ture into our lives—not just to escape technology’s documented negative effects, but also to access the positive benefits that nature provides. It’s not a case of nature versus


technology, however; it’s a matter of balance. The “hybrid mind” can access the benefits of both, facilitating skills in big-picture thinking.


You assert that recon- necting with nature also strengthens community and family bonds, but where can busy urbanites start?


Often, families want to connect with nature but don’t know how. We offer free tools at ChildrenAndNature.org to help you start a family nature club organized around prearranged nature play dates. One club has 600 families. This helps create meaningful social bonding within and between fami- lies. It’s something any family can do, regardless of location or income, and it’s good fun.


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