Post written by Alleah Schweitzer
Welcome back to the Student Wellness Center’s Summer of Reflection! As we explore our Roots of Wellbeing, we dedicate time and space to bringing awareness to each of the dimensions of our wellness, paying attention to the areas that deplete or fortify us. Along the way, we will pause and reflect, and equip ourselves with attitudes of kindness, patience, and curiosity. In this week’s reflection, we will explore our Environmental Root of Wellbeing and our capacity to feel renewed, balanced, and awakened by engaging with our natural surroundings.
It was only a few months ago that I was sitting on a snowbank alongside the roaring Big Wood River, less than a mile from my old home in Idaho. May was here and yet, the typical signs of spring were not. The past winter had been one for the record books. In fact, over five feet of snow still blanketed much of the region. Summer being around the corner felt as improbable as the notion of ever wearing a t-shirt again.
Despite the snow, I resolved to sit by the river that day— it was, in theory, spring. After post-holing a taxing quarter mile to the riverbank, I laid down a picnic blanket atop the snow crust. My mind was far away, spinning with worries about the things I still needed to do, and I could feel my pulse quicken as I bemoaned another cold, lifeless day. Every fiber of my being longed for the days of flip flops, bonfires, and juicy watermelon.
Noticing that my worries weren’t serving me at that moment, I slowed my breath and directed my attention, instead, to my surroundings. My eyes caught the sunshine and the shadows of dancing, bare tree branches, which were projected like a filmstrip onto the white screen of snow at my feet. This movie played to the soundtrack of a raging torrent, thundering off the mountains and snaking past me into the valley below. Beneath the river’s song was the delicate rhythm of snow itself, clicking and dripping, as it melted. My nose detected sweet, earthy wafts of thawing leaves and pinecones. The numbing chill of the frozen landscape crept through my sweater and I, at last, tasted the light crispness of clean spring air.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature– the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson
The relationship I developed with my own backyard in that moment is something we can all try. We don’t even need a riverbank to do it! Here are some ways we can work towards becoming more rooted in our relationships with the environment:
- Practice land acknowledgement— Long before Dartmouth College was established, Indigenous nations like the Abenaki have been in relationship with the land. Land acknowledgements help us to recognize the longstanding history that has brought us all to reside on and learn on this land, including recognizing the enslaved and disenfranchised Black and Indigenous peoples who helped build Hanover, Dartmouth, and surrounding infrastructure. Bring mindfulness to our present participation in colonization and acknowledge the privilege we have in occupying this space.
- Find nature wherever you are— Whether we are observing a ladybug on a blade of grass, a robin flitting past our window, or the warmth of sunshine on our skin heading to class, nature surrounds us and is always ready to be discovered. Dartmouth’s campus has ample spaces for the enjoyment of nature. Find a quiet place in nature and revisit it many times of year, at different times of day, alone and with others.
- Use all of your senses and engage your curiosity in natural settings– Forest bathing, or “shinrin-yoku,” involves immersing yourself fully in a natural environment. This practice can provide many health benefits, including reducing stress and even lead to higher feelings of body appreciation. Find a quiet spot and try these tips for Forest Bathing.
- Learn to recognize and manage eco-anxiety– As our relationships with nature deepen, we can experience feelings of grief, guilt, and despair at the recognition of environmental degradation and climate change. Use a mindfulness practice with Headspace to regulate your nervous system. Process feelings in a non-judgmental space by connecting with a counselor or setting up a Wellness Check In.
- Take bold action– Mitigate feelings of eco-anxiety by making our voices and opinions known. Take this poll to help generate ideas and energy for student-led intersectional climate action on campus. Looking for other ways to take action on campus? Check out Dartlist or visit the Free Market thrift store (basement of North Mass) instead of buying new. Embrace sustainable bike culture. Volunteer at the O-farm.
Spring did eventually arrive. In fact, it was unfolding right before me on that riverbank (even if I was *sigh* wearing a turtleneck). I will never forget the understanding that came when I realized spring was something that I could participate in, rather than waiting for it to happen to me. My time on the riverbank, while only a few minutes long, provided me a sense of surety and renewal I never thought possible from noticing something as simple as the change of seasons. As I fell deeper into appreciating what many outdoor enthusiasts refer to as “shoulder season” or “off-season,” I found myself connected to an unlikely time of year, and with it, this planet and the natural beauty that is all around us every day.
Until next week,
Alleah Schweitzer
Student Wellness Center Wellbeing Program Coordinator