ADAM OLSEN: To call someone a ‘tree-hugger’ is to cast shade on them. So, few people will stop and embrace a tree
Are you familiar with forest therapy? Or, maybe you know it as forest bathing? Perhaps as Shinrin-Yoku? Last week was a mixed-bag when it came to forests and big old trees. On one hand, another ancient forest was shaved off the hillside on Saturna Island. And on the other hand, rather coincidentally, my constituency office team was scheduled to participate in a forest therapy session. We spent time in a very small section of the forest on Ƚ Á U,WEL Ṉ EW ̱ (). Having spent many hours up there, hiking or soaking in the Salish Sea from the bluff, finally noticing the forest is a revelation. There were walkers, hikers, and joggers — and then there was my small constituency office team. Forest therapy is a purposeful practice in patience. It takes some time to slow down, breathe, calm the nervous twitches, clear the mind and the notice the details. Political life moves quickly from one day to the next. It’s not long before weeks, months and years ...