Press
Releases
Cure for Nature Deficit
Disorder
May Be as Close as Your Computer Screen
Newnan, GA, July 25, 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.
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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 in 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 windows. 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 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 come to our site to see 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 |
