I was deeply inspired by an Audible original, "The 3-Day Effect, by Florence Williams" that I listened to as I drove from Seattle, Washington back to Bend, Oregon. From the summary on Audible, "Does nature really make us feel better? The 3-Day Effect takes a look at the science behind why being in the wild can make us happier, healthier, and more creative. ...scientists are finding that more exposure humans have to nature, the more we can benefit from reduced anxiety, enhanced creativity, and overall well being."
My own experiment within 2 weeks after listening to The 3-Day Effect:
I had been in Seattle area most of my life. Almost a year prior I closed my Mural business of 15 years and moved to Oregon for love. Fast forward a year, in the days that followed I packed up the physical items of my life destined for a storage unit in Oregon. I felt as though my life had been dismantled by heartbreak. I was not ready to go back to the world as I knew it. One thing I did know for certain is that I needed to grieve, to give myself time and space to heal. I felt as though I completely stopped breathing. I was on Auto Pilot to move.
In May of 2019 I packed my Honda CRV with the gut feeling that I would be gone for at least a year. Not knowing exactly how the path would go, but a good rough itinerary. Due to #The3dayeffect I knew it would start with camping on my way driving cross country to the East Coast.
From the moment I pulled forward through the McArthur-Burney Falls gates to check in, I could feel that this was the right first step. I wiped away tears from my cheeks and looked out my window to friendly faces at the booth. I then checked in with the nicest couple that are the on site park managers. Jeanne said to come by if I needed anything and even gave me a hug. Holding back the tears I could hardly wait to get to a quiet spot under the old growth trees by the waterfall where no one could hear my cries. I needed to just let it out and cry one of those ugly hard cries. I had to face the facts, life did not go anywhere near how I imagined. No time for tears as priority was to get to work in setting up my camp site.
I easily opened my $29 one person pop up tent, that sprang to size in seconds. I placed it on my rubber drop cloths used for mural painting and strung a tarp over the top. A kind group of Grandpas were my camping neighbors that regularly camped together. I felt like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as they came over to check on my set up in a protective of a granddaughter kind of way and only adjusted one tie down string. They warned me of the rains to come and asked if I had room to lay down in my car just in case, I assured them that I would be ok. I held back the tears and put on the smile face, thanking them for their kindness. I then filled in the tiny pop up tent with my bedding as the sky turned dark. A cozy little set up that had me feeling better that I made it that far. I was completely exhausted and thought how wonderful a walk would be the next day. I gazed up into the intricate canopy of trees from where I stood and gazed at the beauty of the moon shining down. Its as if the moon said, let me give you a little light. Heavens did I need that. That night it rained and rained, my tent flooded and I just laid there crying. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I began to think of the rain as my ally in washing the tears away. An aide in saying just let it flow, its okay to let it go. My car did not have room for me to lay down, so I stayed in my flooded little bright blue tent. Oh what a site. I began to laugh out loud and at that moment, I knew I would be okay. Some how, some way, I knew my heart would once again expand in gratitude for the crazy reality I was in.
The next morning I upgraded from the tent camp site to one of their little one open room cabins with the public restroom and coin operated showers across the path from me. Dressed head to toe in Navy with a Nike ball cap, I systematically cleaned and folded and cussed out my car, my life, my self. Everything meticulously packed to the best of my pretend OCD abilities. I am positive that I looked like a complete shit show from the outside. Even the way I folded the plastic drop cloths with such precision. Then damn it all, I could not open a jar. Holding my jar of pickles, I walk across the road to the other campsite where now a group of Military men were all around a glorious campfire. "Excuse me, do you know where I can get a jar opener." Light chuckles floated in the air. One gentleman stepped forward to offer his muscles. I expressed, "I must be interesting entertainment across the way." Again met by no eye contact, just some nods. So I poke again, "Come on, you had to come up with some damn good stories...maybe Im the clean up crew." Laughter erupted! Brilliant breakthrough. All of a sudden the space is filled with hilarious banter. They wanted to know where the bodies were. I said, "Im all of 110 pounds." They exclaimed that size does not matter and to never underestimate the little ones. Military tattoos covered the bulging biceps. There were men from their 20's to 60's around that fire. Thanking them for the muscles to open the jar I walked back to my one room cabin with my snack.
Thankfully I upgraded, as the next 3 nights were filled with rain storms, a torrential downpour complete with rolling thunder. The sounds of the rain on the roof, the thunder that shook my body, it was perfect. Its as if nature came to the call of the help I needed to shake me awake. To see that this pain is actually an opportunity to heal and create a new life. To say yes to taking the time to do this solo journey. The time and space to find my voice again. To reignite my life with inspiration, creativity and love. To use the skills in my tool belt including my path with nature and plant medicine over the last four years.
I spent a good amount of time walking the trails, watching the wildlife and playing my Peruvian ceremonial flute at the waters edge. A way of expressing gratitude for the quiet reflective time in nature. The mist from the waterfall kissed my cheeks. Watching with respect and awe at the massive power of the water flowing knowing that it too is a lesson. I can not make the water flow in reverse. I can choose the direction that I go. As the saying goes, "Let it go, let it flow."
Day 1: I was an absolute mess. Day 2: I felt a shift happening in my attitude and in my body. Day 3: I felt like I was beginning to breathe again. Day 4, I did not want to leave.
I am grateful for #FlorenceWilliams for writing The 3-Day Effect. In the distraction of pain we often forget to breathe. We forget the tools we have for healing. We sometimes end up paralyzed in shock, like a deer in the headlights. That is what happened to me. I was paralyzed in shock on the inside and going through the motions on the outside in complete auto pilot mode. This book gave me the ability to remind myself and to focus on what I knew I needed and nature showed up in full effect. I believe with all my heart that it was the best way to spend the first four nights of my healing journey. I will integrate more time outside in nature on this year long journey and for the rest of my life.
If you do not have the ability to get away for your own experiment with The 3-Day Effect. Here are a few ideas you may find helpful.
1. Start with regularly going for a walk outside and pay attention to the nature around you.
2. Have your morning coffee or tea sitting outside if you can.
3. Put your bare feet on the ground if weather permits.
4. Bring in a house plant to your home, nurture it and it will nurture you.
I also definitely recommend listening to The 3-Day Effect.
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