Forest Bathing and Storytelling: Embracing Joyful Connections

You know, us elder Millennials just can’t help ourselves. Go outside they said, use your imagination they said. Build a tree house they said. Play as though you’re a pirate or a cop or robber, or cowboy or Indian and no, I will not apologize, as the names I’m calling them are what they are.

I spent hours in my 37 years playing in the woods, wandering through the seams of imagination and reality.

I forest bathed in my 20s and 30s by spending time just sitting with the trees. I brought a journal and a book and often didn’t touch either and would just relax and enjoy being in nature, pure creation.

I now find joy in writing poetry and lyrics, stories and nightmares down as a means of remembrance.

I find joy in exploring pages of books and traveling to distant lands through stories written about people, both fact and fiction.

I find joy in people. I love sitting at a table with a delicious meal and a group of close friends. I find joy in playing games, board games, card games, silly games.

I crave connection in meaningful ways. Generally joy is not as meaningful for me when doing things alone.

I could read through all these posts, but I’d love to hear from my like-minded old souls that crave connection and find joy in people rather than things.

Daily writing prompt

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.