When was the last time you had your hands in the dirt?
Look at little children. When they explore, they touch everything. Grab the soil in the plant pot. Push it through their little fingers. They might even taste it !!!
But exploration is not just for little ones. We all need a little bit of dirt in our life!
Soil makes us happy. It contains mycobacterium vaccae [1] a natural antidepressant which stimulates the production of our mood stabiliser hormone, the serotonin. It is also believed to improve our cognitive functions (memory, problem solving, concentration).
In addition to that, gardening engages our senses and if you are playing in the dirt, you will most likely be outside (if not, it is an opportunity to do so). Exposure to natural light has many wonderful benefits like boosting Vitamin D and improving sleep.
🐰 *** My dare to you this Easter Weekend ️*** 🐰
Get your hands in the dirt
Find a patch of soil*.
If you don’t have a garden, ‘borrow’ a little bit of dirt from one of your plant pots.
If you don’t have any plant at home, you can buy a small bag of compost.
Roll up your sleeves ... dive in … push your hands in the soil, immerse them … wiggle your fingers … how does that feel?
If you are not sure (or don’t want to mess up your manicure) take some soil with a spoon first and put it in the palm of your hand, then ...
Touch
Kneed
Rub
Dig
Roll
Squeeze
and play
Close your eyes.
Acknowledge the richness of the earth, the nutrition it provides …
Take a deep breath.
Draw in the energy of the soil in your hands, through your body.
When you are finished, gently dust off your hands and wash them with soap and warm water.
Repeat as often as you like.
*Note: pay extra attention to soil in fields, woodlands, gardens which might contain chemicals. Follow your common sense to find a healthy patch of soil.
I'd love to hear how you got on with this #dare, please share your experience in the comment section!
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References:
[1] Is Dirt the New Prozac? - Discover Magazine.
Image credit: Photo by Gabriel Jimenez on Unsplash
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