Health Heroes: John Muir

Health Heroes: A series of posts where I am honoring people who have touched my life & left lasting good impressions on my journey toward living a healthy lifestyle.

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IMG_6048.JPG“I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news.” – John Muir

When I marvel at the beauty I have the fortune of dwelling in, here in the great American west, I am grateful to John Muir. He was a Scottish born American author, naturalist, one of the early advocates of preserving the natural beauty of the western states and the founder of the Sierra club.

California is peppered with beautiful natural places, open space preserves, state parks and national parks. I don’t know that Muir had a hand in the preservation of every single one, but his contribution to preserving western beauty is something I’m eternally grateful for.

Nature is where I find my peace, renewal, freedom and where I go to get re-balanced. I love many of Muir’s quotes, which I was most recently exposed to on a visit to Muir Woods. I can only describe that reading his quotes while in the woods was almost chilling in how much they resonated with me, and I know I’m not alone in that.

We know that being outdoors and getting sun exposure is essential to our vitamin D production. Hikes are one of my favorite ways to soak up the rays and enhance my Vitamin D production. A big dose of nature is often all I need to get my head straight after any stressful time.

I leave you with some inspiration in the words of John Muir, and ask you to share, if you would like to, how being in nature plays a role in your life.

“I only went our for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…”

“I will follow my instincts, and be myself for good or ill.”

“Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”

“Earth has no sorrow that earth can not heal.”

“Going to the woods is going home.”

― John Muir


2 Responses to Health Heroes: John Muir

  1. Judy Abe says:

    I appreciate nature for never demanding anything but my presence to embrace all its beauty. I never feel I need to be or do anything else. Nature is evercleansing and always the perfect remedy when I need to seek clarity

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