Nature Deficit Disorder

A new term has been identified in environmental medicine and naturopathic medicine - NDD (nature deficit disorder) instead of ADD or attention deficit disorder. It's becoming a problem in today's children (and adults!) which makes me sooooo sad.

Growing up on a farm (even though it was a tobacco farm!), my sister Angela and I were far from nature deficient. Walking around barefoot on the grass and the soil, making mudpies, being outside in the fresh air all summer long (working hard in the tobacco fields!), having a huge garden (ahhhh the rows and rows of potatoes and tomatoes that needed weeding!) and a creek in our backyard, all truly connected us with nature and kept us grounded.

In today's society, children are being shuttled from indoor activity to indoor activity, or sit in front of the tv or video games and have no connection with the Earth and nature. Meanwhile adults aren't any better ...

Try to make it a point of getting outside for at least 15 minutes every day. Not only do you get some vitamin D, but you have a chance to slow down and breathe and relax.