Connect with Nature

I love going into the mountains!

No screens.

No stuff.

Just hiking, hanging out, feeling tired & strong, being in nature.

I love hearing what my son is thinking.  What he notices.  What he's figuring out.

On a long slog up a mountain, sometimes we talk, sometimes we sing (and make up funny songs!).

A lot of the time we're quiet.

It's so rare to have quiet thinking time with nothing but nature around.

This is more than important - it’s what human health is built on.

It's a time we connect with each other - and ourselves.

Connection - noticing and paying attention to the thoughts & feelings of others and yourself - is essential.

• Connection calms your nervous system.

• A calm nervous system nourishes a healthy gut.

• And a healthy gut nourishes a healthy every system in your body & brain :)

• Exercise also nourishes a healthy gut (search "pubmed athletes healthy gut microbiome").  

In the mountains we get a lot of exercise.

Research shows exercise can:

• Also nourish a healthy gut (search "pubmed athletes healthy gut microbiome").

• Relieve depression

• Improve memory & cognitive function

• Increase dopamine, serotonin, GABA

• Support digestion & relieves constipation

We have to work for everything - and it's so worth it :)

It's not hard, but we have to...

→ build our tent.

→ put together the stove.

→ cook our food, and clean & store our kitchen.

→ hang or stash our food - the stews & beef jerky & dried fruit we make ourselves, and the treats that are extra tasty after a big hike - so we don't get visited by bears!

→ pack up everything and carry it whereever we go.

And where we go is beautiful.

There's nothing else like it!

Nature & connection & using my body like this brings me peace that fuels me for the rest of life, and I see it fueling my son. 

Yes, he gets frustrated at times.

So do I - this is effortful recreation in wild nature, and there are always surprises ;)

And he absolutely glows with pride & confidence in his backcountry accomplishments :)

If you have the opportunity to get out into the wilds (safely, of course) I recommend it!

But you don't have to go far to touch nature and support your health...

Opening a window to hear the wind or birds

Looking at the sky or clouds or leaves

Taking off your shoes outside and closing your eyes to feel the earth under your feet

...this is ALL touching nature!

And for any of your adventures, here are a couple of our favorite treats - which are on SUPER SALE right NOW (35%OFF plus free gift!):

• PaleoValley Bone Broth Protein Bars!  These are seriously, crazily delicious, and full of powerful, sustaining superfoods!
  My fav is the chocolate chocolate chip (ahem, more like an obsession).  My son loves the apple cinnamon.  Get 15% OFF here >>>
  

• PaleoValley Vanilla Bone Broth Protein!  I keep this one stocked for backpacking, road trips and at home. While camping it's a great sweet nourishing substitute for powdered milk. Get 15% OFF here >>>

So...

How can you adventure into nature today, this week, this season?

Start small.

As your the gut-loving, brain-boosting, whole-human positive feedback builds, your outings may expand :)