As nature lovers, it's hard not to appreciate the beauty, power, and poetry of trees. Nature elevates the human spirit. Even a simple walk down a tree-lined path can soothe the soul. In fact, the Japanese have a word for the healing that occurs when you venture out into nature: "forest bathing." The practice of forest bathing, or escaping the noise and stress of urban city life to wander among trees, is now recognized as a legitimate way to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost the immune system through relaxation.
Today is a day set aside to honor and celebrate all that trees do for humanity, from providing shade and relief from the heat to providing food and lumber for building shelter. Go outside today and take a look at what nature has to offer: the variety of color, texture, scent, and beauty in trees is right at your fingertips (or right in your backyard.)
Used as symbols in art and architecture since ancient days, trees have represented a variety of values in human society, from growth and new life to knowledge and death. With roots that reach down into the ground and branches that stretch toward the sky at the same time, it's no wonder that trees have repeatedly come to represent the struggle of the human condition.
*This post was originally published on June 28, 2017