One of the most powerful ways to reduce stress and improve your mood is to observe nature. It is wise to be grateful for the scenic gifts Lake and Mendocino counties have to offer.
Spending time in nature can be soothing to your mind and body. It mandates the removal of all the technology that can dominate our lives such as cell phones, television and computers. When you take the time to watch a sunrise on Clear Lake, you leave your computer behind. If you travel to the Mendocino coast at Albion, your cell phone will not work. Nature gives us a golden opportunity to be present, to breathe and to observe beauty.
Beauty activates the right brain, which naturally increases stress reduction chemicals in your body. You can”t be stressed in the moment you appreciate beauty.
We often here of the stress relief exercise can bring, but it is also good to understand nature can give us the same benefit. Scenic beauty is its own meditation. We are all fortunate to live in an area of abundant beauty.
As I look at the lake, I am in awe that it is North America”s oldest lake. My mind slows down and random thoughts subside when I contemplate how ancient the lake is.
Geologists believe the lake is 2.5 million years old, according to lakecounty.com. There are more than 20 seismic events every 24 hours that measure below the level of our perception. Clear Lake is a living, moving and breathing wonder.
I can”t remember the last thing I was stressed about, but I will remember a moonrise on Clear Lake for the rest of my life.
My wife and I recently spent two nights on the Mendocino coast. Our room did not come with a television, but it did come with a sunset on the Pacific Ocean. Our time there was not only peaceful, but it also nurtured our relationship. We didn”t need to say much to each other because the beauty of our view was all that needed to be said.
The color, the smells, the sky, the ocean, the cliffs and bluffs were enough on their own to provide a loving time together. When you contemplate nature and observe creation, not much needs to be said. Creation has a silent and soothing language all its own.
Here are two suggestions to get in touch with nature and relieve stress. Visit the top of the Hopland Grade Highway 175 and have lunch. There is a large area where you can pull off the road and park and see all of Lake County. It is an amazing view. Remember to leave your cell phone at home.
Visit the Mendocino coast and walk the Botanical Gardens near Fort Bragg.
I understand a trip to the coast requires some effort, but the experience is worth it. The coast offers beauty that takes your breath away.
Nature is its own reward. We spend time in it because we can, because it is simple, because its value is self-evident. Lake and Mendocino offer many chances to be in nature and to be thankful for its gifts.
Matthew McQuaid, DPM is a board-certified foot surgeon practicing in Lakeport. He is interested in mind/body medicine and its impact on healing. He is an author and teacher. For information call 263-3727 or visit www.drmcquaid.com.
