Date: 2014-02-05
To: Sophrosyne
Miles today: 0.0

There's a Japanese concept called Shinrin-yoku, meaning something like forest bathing in which nature can be used for therapeutic effects. I read an article on Mother Nature Network that summed it up pretty well- "Most of us have felt tension slip away in the midst of trees, and science confirms its healing influence. When you spend a few hours hiking or camping, you breathe in phytoncides, active substances released by plants to protect them from insects and rotting, which appear to lower blood pressure and boost your immune system."I wanted to write a little something about this because when I first heard of this Japanese word, I thought of this one story VICE journalism did about a place nicknamed Suicide Forest. Is it a coincidence this forest is in Japan? I don't know, but I think it's interesting to think about. Japan is one of the more densely populated places in the world and it also happens to be a country with a high suicide rating. It's a very dark thing to think about and it's definitely something worth looking into and talking about.It's like there's a darkness that seeps into our world when you have everyone crammed together. We're pretty much constantly bumping shoulders yet we're so detached, removed, and distant from each other at the same time. Part of the reason I'm doing the Appalachian Trail is to get away from THAT. Detaching myself to get away from detachment. Ok, that doesn't make sense but, the point is Shinrin-yoku. I believe following the Appalachian Trail will be like a cleansing that will strip away most of the unimportant things in life and make you appreciate the bare essentials.And just to throw it out there, I think I may have a bit of nyctophilia; having a preference for darkness or nighttime. It's like a relaxing sensation for me, but it's very subtle. This kind of explains why night trekking has been one of my favorite hobbies ever since I can remember. There's no destination, goal, or time frame for this hobby. Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of opportunity to indulge in this kind of pastime between school and work. I wrote in my journal yesterday about how a float tank experience kind of restored my sanity in college. Add in a few full moon explorations in the mountains and you get a natural high. At least for me. I find it quite meditative especially if you have the right kind of company with you. Solitude is definitely a blessing though.I understand the AT will be full of people when I go, but one big thing that I'm trying to escape is light. Considering that I have been pretty much a city boy most of my life, I'm constantly surrounded by light. Not even sunlight. Just fake, fluorescent, never ending light polluting light. Seeing stars has been a very RARE thing ever since I moved away from New Jersey. It drives me mad. Sometimes I think about how many dreamers the world is no longer producing because people are so sucked into TVs, looking down at their phones, or in some kind of constant state of distraction. There's no time for looking up and getting lost in wonder nowadays. One aspect of camping that I find absolutely refreshing has been getting away from all those distractions. Lights are reduced to campfires and headlamps at night. Maybe you'll see the glow of a distant city or town, but that can be kind of comforting in some ways. Sunrise means the start of your day. Starbucks and McDonalds are not in sight (hopefully). There are no streets, cars, traffic, and nonsense everywhere you look. Then there's the all embracing smell of freshness.So yes. I'm one of those people. I'm looking at the AT as a bit of self prescribed therapy. If you're still reading, well thank you for taking interest! I hope you don't have any expectations of me because I'm just doing a little personal journaling and not a whole lot of editing or preplanned thinking. This one had kind of a morbid start so I'll end with a more positive note from powerful Marcus Aurelius.¢When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...¢   - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations