Mother Nature Knows How To Relieve Stress

  We do not get much "fall color" down here in the Deep South.  Oh, we have color but it is mainly green..and..brown.  The beautiful show of leaves changing through the color spectrum before they drop from trees is not a thing we often observe so when we do see an orange leaf, we rejoice!  This fall color change receives the same emotion as a snowflake here..even though, our "snowflakes" are usually in the form of sleet so are actually ice...not snow.  Still, we are overjoyed with whatever tiny bit of season change we are granted.

  This afternoon, Mark and I took a leisurely stroll about the property.  We ended up on the pier (as usual) and sat to just enjoy our time.  When I panned the area, my heart fluttered a bit when I noticed COLOR!  On the western shore, just beyond my brother's pier, the cypress trees were about to lose their needles.  The trees were a rather rusty orange and contrasted well against the green of the pines. (Yes, we have the type of deciduous cypress trees that lose their needles during the late fall/early winter.)  To boot, there were a few black gum trees showing their deep maroon colors. This color change was an exciting event!  Ok, maybe not but it did brighten the day a bit.

  The changing colors gives us a lift emotionally whether we wish to admit it or not.  While the visual impact can be stimulating, just being outside to enjoy the beauty gives us the fresh air to cleanse the mind.  Our brains need the clearing of clutter especially during stressful times.  We need the stimulus to break free from the survival mode that we pull around ourselves as we cope with whatever life throws at us.  Letting the brain rejuvenate allows us to "live" our lives and not just survive our daily hardships.  With that in mind, go out and find your own "colors" whether they come in the form of leaves, flowers or even a pretty sunset.  Free the mind of troubles and live.  Mother Nature is there to help.