A Japanese practice that involves spending time in a forest to promote relaxation and connect with nature.
The term (森林浴) translates to “forest bath”.
The idea of forest bathing —of taking time to be in nature, of slowing down and paying attention to the sights, sounds, colours and textures around you— is not a new one to me.
But I never knew it had a name.
Before Jack arrived, Becca did some courses and considered setting up some form of counselling/help service which would’ve been centred around this practice.
Imagine a walk in a forest whilst you let nature relax you, discussing whatever comes up, with an empathetic, caring, and knowledgeable person at your side. Guiding your journey in more ways than one.
It was a perfect match for my nature loving, gentle natured, generous wife. Then we got pregnant and everything changed, but maybe she’ll revisit in the future.
I need to do more forest bathing.
It’s too easy to get caught up in home life, in the endless tasks and chores, in the too easy acceptance of the closing down of the world to just those walls, this garden.
I work at home so can feel this keenly at times, realising after a particularly busy couple of days that I’ve not actually left the house, or had a face to face conversation with anyone other than my wife and son.
Which brings me to thoughts of isolation, of disconnect, of floating aimlessly along in a fugue state. The energy and motivation fade as they aren’t being used.
Bye bye mojo.
Time to visit a forest I think.
What are your thoughts?