Healing Through Nature: Nourishing the Child Within

I remember those quiet summer weekend afternoons when I was young, with nothing to do.
After my chores were done, I was free until dinner.

I would head to the end of our backyard, climb over the chain-link fence, and make my solitary journey through the bush to the little creek, my private sanctuary. 

I’d slip off my sandals and step into the cool water, feeling it ripple around my feet and hands. Pebbles rolled gently with the current and settled on clay ridges. Dragonflies with iridescent wings darted from plant to plant. The air was still. Even the birds seemed to be resting.

Back then, I didn’t have an iPhone or a camera, and even if I had taken a photo, it would never have captured the moments—

The clay pillars.
The colors of each lovely pebble.
The balmy scent of the bush.
The symphony of the breeze moving through the tall eucalyptus leaves.
The cool, living water.

The Australian bush imprinted itself into my memory.

The Strength It Gave Me

I believe my experiences in the bush, without parents hovering, were an important part of my ability to push through difficult, daunting events in my life. 

We climbed trees.
Explored rock fissures and small caves.
Swam in water holes, fished, and picnicked
Went on long treks.

It gave us confidence as we learned how to overcome obstacles by our own wits.

We learned by doing, navigating risks, problem-solving, and trusting our instincts.

That freedom built our confidence and strengthened our resilience.

Growing up in and around nature helped me survive parental abuse. When home was stressful, the bush was a refuge. 

Research now confirms what many of us intuitively know.

Studies summarized by Roots of Action, a research-based source on positive youth development and developmental psychologist Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell  show that time in nature contributes to:

• Stress relief

• Improved concentration and memory

• Increased creativity

• Better emotional regulation

• Stronger mental health

Nature is not a luxury for children. It is nourishment.

The Child Within Still Needs This

As adults, we often forget this.

We move fast. We stay connected to devices. We push through stress. We override fatigue.

But the child within us still longs for quiet space.

Still needs wonder.
Still needs restoration.
Still needs connection to something larger and life-affirming.

Nature helps us return to ourselves.

It comforts our grief.
Calms anger.
Eases anxiety.
Clears mental fog.

When you step into nature — whether it’s a park, a beach, a garden, or a forest trail — your nervous system can rest and renew. 

 

There was a child went forth every day;

And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became;

And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years.

The early lilacs became part of this child,

And grass, and white and red morning-glories, and white and red clover, and the song of the phoebe-bird,

And the Third-month lambs, and the sow's pink-faint litter, and the mare's foal, and the cow's calf — Walt Whitman

If you feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or burdened by stress, grief, anger, or unresolved trauma, your system may be asking for restoration.

Sometimes that begins in nature.
Sometimes it needs guided support to go deeper.

If you would like help releasing what feels heavy and reclaiming inner calm and freedom, I offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation to explore whether this work is right for you.

You don’t have to navigate it alone.

In peace,