My Journey Back to Nature (And Yours Too!)

A story of remembering the nature-health connection, and an invitation to return.

At the time, I was practicing as a Naturopathic Doctor in a busy clinic. My days were filled with one patient after another, each sharing health concerns that had lingered for years. I would always begin with the foundations: “How are you sleeping? How is your stress? How are you nourishing yourself? Are you spending time outside?”

Over time, a pattern emerged. Very few people were making nature a priority.

It made me think back to my own childhood and how essential being outside was to my wellbeing, and how it still is. I began to wonder: Have we forgotten the nature-health connection? Do people realize how deeply nature supports us? Have we become so used to modern solutions that we overlook what has always been available to us?

So I started doing something simple but powerful, I wrote “Spend time outside every day” on actual prescription pads. Some people laughed, unsure if I was serious. Others tried it, and those who did often returned with a subtle glow in their voice. They felt calmer. Clearer. More themselves.

Like me, if you grew up with minimal screens, you probably spent hours outside. Think back to that time and ask yourself: what did that feel like? Peace? Freedom? A kind of quiet joy that settled into your bones?

Those feelings were healing then, and they can still be healing now.

Somewhere along the way, with responsibilities, busyness, and the weight of adulthood, running barefoot into the grass stopped being a daily ritual. But the need for it never left.

And this is where our journey begins: with the simple truth that when we reconnect with nature, we reconnect with ourselves.

As a busy ND, I’ll admit that I wasn’t always able to take my own advice. My days were long, I had a young family, and without much extended family support around me, I often reached the end of the day completely depleted. I was overwhelmed, stretched thin, and longing for a slower, more nourishing rhythm.

Deep down, I knew I wasn’t living in a way my soul needed.

Nature may seem simple, but the solutions she offers are deeply nourishing. When we return to her, we begin to rediscover parts of ourselves we didn’t even know we had lost. A nature-connected life offers us:

Slowness

There’s a quote I love: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” When we lean into nature’s pace, we soften. Our breath deepens. Life begins to feel less urgent and more spacious.

Rhythm

When we stop pushing against the seasons and instead allow ourselves to move with them, something shifts. Each season teaches us how to live: when to rest, when to grow, when to release. This natural rhythm brings a calm steadiness to our days.

Wellness

Nature intended us to use her gifts for healing. She offers so much: plants, sunlight, fresh air, grounding, and beauty, each with its own medicine. When we let these things in, gently and consistently, we begin to feel more like ourselves.

Responsibility

The more we reconnect with nature, the more we want to care for her. Stewardship becomes natural, almost instinctive. And when we care for the Earth, we create something beautiful: a healthier planet, healthier families, and a better future for all.

I created this space with the hope of helping people reconnect with nature and gently nurture their wellbeing. It’s a place where mindful nature connection, simple holistic wellness, and seasonal living come together to create meaningful change - within ourselves and for the planet we love.

My hope is that as you walk this path, you begin to feel a sense of slowness, rhythm, wellness, and responsibility growing quietly within you.

This journey isn’t about being outdoorsy, experienced, or perfect. It’s about small, tender steps. It’s about remembering the pace your body was designed for. It’s about returning, slowly and softly, to what nature always intended for us.

Let her in, and allow yourself to heal gently.

If this way of living speaks to you, I’d love for you to join the Nurtured Naturally newsletter to receive future mindful nature practices and seasonal guidance.