Nature’s Influence on My Happiness

By Maddie Jones, TCU Senior Nursing Student 

The outdoors has always been a huge component of my life and is attached to some of my favorite memories. Family vacations always included an outdoor component such as hiking, swimming, or winter sports. Throughout the years, I have found outdoor hikes and long walks to be a valuable outlet for me. Whether it’s with friends or by myself, I find hiking in the surrounding nature to be a great time for self-thought and reflection. The physical component helps to reduce my stress and contributes to my physical well-being, but the serene views all around me is always my favorite part. Every environment is unique and features something new, so I never grow bored and it’s a great way to enjoy silence and just soak in the beauty of the Earth. Nature helps to serve as a distraction from the stressors in our life and around the world, especially right now, because it reminds us what peace feels like and gives us a view of what creation looks like, rather than destruction.