Cure for Nature Deficit Disorder May Be as Close as Your Computer Screen
What's the cure for nature-deficit disorder? The most obvious answer is simply more exposure to the beauty of the natural world. At first glance, that seems easy, but most people, especially in the United States, only take one short vacation a year. And for many people who live in urban environments or who are ill or otherwise incapacitated, getting out into nature is difficult. But with the release of Lessons from Water, relief may be as close as your computer screen.
Newnan, GA (PRWEB) July 27, 2005-- When author Richard Louv coined the phrase
"nature-deficit disorder", he was linking children's alienation from nature to
today's pervasive epidemic of childhood obesity, attention-deficit disorder and
depression. Louv believes that the root of many of these childhood maladies
stems from being constantly exposed to our modern plugged-in, wired-up way of
living and from never having any meaningful contact with the natural
world.
But Ellen Britt, PA, Ed.D., co-founder of Primal Waters and an
expert in stress resiliency, argues that it's not only children who are
suffering from nature-deficit disorder, but adults as well. A recent
Environmental Protection Agency study found that most adults in the United
States spend 90% of their lives indoors.
What is the cure for
nature-deficit disorder? The most obvious answer is simply more exposure to the
beauty of the natural world. At first glance, that seems easy, but most people,
especially in the United States, only take one or at the most, two short
vacations a year. And for many people who live in urban environments or who are
ill or otherwise incapacitated, getting out into nature is difficult at best and
in some cases, impossible.
But we don't have to fly to Hawaii or head to
Jackson Hole to benefit from nature. "There is plenty of scientific research
that tells us just getting outside everyday, walking in a local park or even
looking out the window at our own backyards, can be immensely helpful to both
our physical and psychological well-being, " says Dr. Britt. "Many people make
the mistake of believing they have to travel to an exotic locale to be in
nature, when in reality, what I call 'everyday nature' is just outside our
doors. But a lot of people don't really see the beauty that is all around them.
We haven't been taught to appreciate nature's details, the splendor of the
slanting afternoon light on the trees or the way the grasses along the roadside
move in the wind."
So how can we learn to appreciate the natural world,
to really see the beauty in everyday nature? "We need to be able to look at
nature's details in a fresh way, from a slightly different vantage point," says
Britt. " Here at Primal Waters we were already involved in producing digital
media products that help people to relax, but what we really wanted to do was to
help people see ordinary nature in a whole new way. That's why we are releasing
Lessons from Water."
Lessons from Water is a short, web-based flash movie
that is completely free to view. The movie, with its beautiful natural images,
soothing original music and provocative message, is carefully crafted to gently
teach the viewer to see the natural world from a different
perspective.
"When people watch Lessons from Water, they will not only
get a relaxing and peaceful break from their day, but they will leave knowing
how to truly "see," perhaps for the first time in their lives. Even a puddle
after a rain storm will take on a whole new meaning."
To see Lessons from
Water, simply go to:
http://www.LessonsFromWater.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb266159.htm