ANDREA MALMUD

It’ s time to gaze upon nature

Shalom, chaverim! As I write this, my head is still in the trees even though Tu B’Shevat is fast receding. It is one of my favorite holidays, because it brings hope for new life and renewal. Planting trees in Israel at that time is just a precursor to planting our own flora here. Science has shown that trees give off chemicals that help lower our cortisol levels, pulse rates, and those other anxiety-related culprits in our bodies that cause us to feel like monkeys are jumping around in our brains. A “Psychology Today” article talks about some of the health rewards that nature brings us: “Forest bathing” — it has nothing to do with water; it’s immersing oneself in a natural environment and deriving the many health benefits of being in the woods — “is an antidote to pinging distractions, impending deadlines, and never-ending obligations. Also, in one study that included images of natural environments, people felt more positive about their body image, which is the opposite of the self-disdain we may feel when scrolling through social media.”

So let’s start here. I’ve included here a favorite photo of mine, taken by a colleague, a horticultural therapist who created and photographed this lovely garden. When you can manage a break, look at this photo — and/or other images of a peaceful wooded setting — while breathing deeply in a relaxed position. When the weather is right, go outside and find a forest or one single tree that speaks to your heart and tells you that you may take that break you so deserve.

Andrea Malmud, LCSW, is the CAI Jewish Family Service of MetroWest social work consultant.