These are tough times for so many of us. We are feeling all the feels, from overwhelm to anxiety and straight up daily stress.

I’ve spoken on these pages in the past about how sometimes we are made to feel small. And I was thinking about that again after a particularly unpleasant afternoon last week. I did some research on the phenomenon of feeling small instead of relying solely on my lived experience. What a lovely surprise that I didn’t come away with more negativity. Instead, I found a lovely composition that changed my way of feeling. The writing by our former Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy.

The idea that we can feel really overwhelmed or stressed but if we take ourselves out into nature, where we may be met with awe, we can instead feel a sense of relief. The moments when I walk to the Hudson River and sit there for countless minutes… are life changing There are times in life where it may feel completely impossible to steal yourself away, but those may be the moments you must. When you are feeling depressed, not only is it beneficial to get yourself into nature, but also to move your body.

About two years ago, I was going through some things, I called it out, out loud, to myself. Even though I was alone, I spoke it out loud, telling myself “I’m depressed”. So, I took a very deep breath, put on my walking shoes, and made myself move — outside. Yes, it helped. And sometimes, you may have to do it again, and again, and again. It’s not a quick fix, boom, I’m fine! It’s a moment in time that may or may not return and one where you must remember, this too shall pass. That sounds trite, I know. But it will and it has and it will again, and again, and again.

Life is impermanent and it would do us well to remember that. And that “mood follows action”, if you’re going to sit around, knowing you feel bad, you might continue to sink deep into the couch or your bed, but if you get up and move and get into nature, you just might change your perspective.