The Blue, The Green, and The Being

Hi, I’m Matt

A very warm welcome to you! As we also welcome Spring and Summer! I am a student counsellor with Ripples Wellbeing, and today I want to share a few reflections on why nature is so much more than just a "pretty view”. It is a part of who we are.

“There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says ‘morning, boys. How’s the water?’ The two young fish swim on for a bit, until eventually one of them turns to the other and says ‘what the hell is water?’”

The answer is that we are the water. 

In our busy, always on, world, many of us feel a strange sense of disconnection. We spend so much time behind screens that we forget to acknowledge we are actually part of nature, and in turn nature is a part of us.

Consider this, we spend our first nine months of life immersed in the "watery" environment of our mother's womb. When we're born, our bodies are approximately 78 percent water. As we age, that number drops to below 60 percent, but the brain continues to be made of 80 percent water. Even in its mineral make up, the water in our cells is comparable to that found in the sea.

We are Hard Wired for the Wild

Have you ever wondered why the sound of rain or the smell of a forest instantly makes you take a deeper breath?

There is a beautiful theory called Biophilia, which simply means a "love of life." It suggests that we have a biological need to connect with nature.  Our nervous systems aren't designed for concrete and bright LED lights; they are "hard-wired" to feel safe among trees, soil, and sky, just as our ancestors lived.

When we step into a green space, our bodies recognise it as "home" and that's when the healing between our connection with our planet begins.

The Magic of the Blue and the Green

We often talk about the calm of the forest, in Japan this is called Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing. It’s that wonderful feeling of being held in the stillness of the trees and is definely worth a read.

But there is also a "Blue Mind" state.

In his lovely book, Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols talks about the special way water affects us. Whether it’s the vastness of the ocean, the gentle flow of a river, or even just the sound of a fountain, the feeling of a running tap over our hands, water has a way of easing our stress and constant doing.

By acknowledging it, water invites us to simply be.

Nature as a Gentle Support

I like to think of nature as a "silent co-therapist." It doesn't ask anything of us. It doesn't judge our progress or check our to do lists. It just holds space for us to exist.

When we engage with nature, even in small ways, we delve into a grounded sense of belonging. It reminds us that just like the seasons, we have time’s to bloom and time’s to rest.

I gently invite you to wonder:

Where do you feel most at peace? Is it under the shade of a tree or listening to the rhythm of the waves?

Can you find a few minutes this week to notice something organic? The texture of a stone, the dance of a leaf, or the way light hits a bowl of water on your table?

How does your body feel when you let yourself "just be" in a natural space?

Whether you find your peace in the “Blue" or the "Green," remember that you don't need to go far to seek out that sense of connection. Sometimes, just opening a window and watching the clouds is enough to remind you that you belong to this beautiful, living earth.

Thank you for reflecting with me today. May your journey back to nature be one of stillness, discovery, and deep, quiet joy.

Matt.