The Best Medicine You’re Not Taking

This morning on our beginner-friendly walk in beautiful Warburton, something magical happened. Sure, we moved our bodies. We huffed a little up hills, stretched our stride on the flats, and caught our breath beside the river. But it wasn’t the fitness that made it memorable. It was the feeling. That spark. That moment of childlike awe and wonder that we so often forget as we age.

As a group, we paused to imagine… what if this was our first time in nature? What if we were seeing these towering trees, dancing rapids, and that epic blue sky for the very first time? Suddenly, everything became brighter. We noticed trees that looked like they were made for climbing. Leaves that shimmered. Birdsong that echoed just right. And the highlight for many of us? The swing bridges! We ran, jumped, giggled, and bounced across like little kids on a playground. No fitness tracker required.

Awe and wonder are not just for kids

The science agrees: awe and wonder are powerful emotional states. They’ve been shown to reduce stress, increase generosity, improve mood, and even make us feel like we have more time. Studies suggest that regularly experiencing awe can increase life satisfaction, promote humility, and help us feel more connected to others and the world around us.

Yet, most of us stopped chasing wonder somewhere between high school and house payments. Instead of getting out there, we stay “on track.” Ticking boxes. Answering emails. Exercising on treadmills, indoors, under fluorescent lights, forgetting there’s a whole other way to live, breathe, and connect. But here’s the truth: awe opens us up, wonder slows us down, and nature hands them both to us for free.

Nature is the most under-prescribed medicine

What if I told you there’s a medicine that improves mental health, cardiovascular health, immunity, and even relationships, with no negative side effects and zero cost? It’s called going outside. And not just going outside, but going outside with intention. Walking with others. Sharing moments. Laughing at the swing bridge. Noticing. Imagining. Letting your inner child (the curious, barefoot version of you) come along for the hike too.

This morning, our walk wasn’t just exercise. It was a wellbeing reset. We moved, yes. But more importantly, we connected. With ourselves. With each other. With the world. To everyone who joined me today, I want to say thank you. You reminded me (again) that sometimes, the deepest medicine doesn’t come in a bottle. It comes in the form of shared steps, shared stories, and shared wonder.

So here’s your prescription for the week: Find some trees. Look up. Walk slowly. Laugh loudly. And when the swing bridge shows up… run across it like you mean it. See you on the trail soon.