Dear Diary,

Carmel, Indiana

I am a fan of benches and also of “forest baths” so when the two meet…I am compelled to sit and immerse myself in the forest’s embrace. Sounds corny…but it works for me. In Japan, forest bathing is Shinrin-yoku. Sometime it’s also called “komorebi,” the light that leaks through trees. Science validated the emotional value of forest bathing, enjoying the shadows, sounds, feeling of the trees and light. It’s proven to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and help minimize worrying about things we always worry about. Sitting on a bench gives me the opportunity to soak in the motion and emotion of the trees…they do talk to each other, you know.

Whenever I see a bench, I imagine other people sitting on it. What were they thinking when they looked out at the same view I’m seeing? I took this image 15 years ago, almost to the day (11/26/2008) on my brother-in-law’s property in Carmel, Indiana. His family moved several years ago. I’ll bet they left the bench. This was a peaceful place, the quiet, the smell of evergreens and crisp fall air, the sound of the leaves rustling in the light breeze. Yesterday I listened to a Zoom lecture on Forest Bathing from the Smithsonian. The speaker is a certified Forest Bathing tour guide and teaches folks how to make the most of your time in nature. She tells me that large sections of Japan’s forest have been specifically reserved for Forest Bathing and tours are plentiful. There are several in the DC area, sadly, I don’t know of any here in the RVA.