Hands in the Soil

She pressed her fingers into the soil, feeling its cool weight settle against her skin. Gardening has been shown to lower cortisol levels, improve mood, and support overall mental health through gentle physical activity and sensory engagement (Soga et al. 94).

The scent of earth grounded her in the moment. Research also indicates that direct contact with natural environments can strengthen immune function and reduce inflammation over time (Rook 294). As she tended the plants, her breathing steadied, and calm returned through simple, intentional care.

Works Cited (MLA)

Rook, Graham A. W. “Regulation of the Immune System by Biodiversity from the Natural Environment.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 110, no. 46, 2013, pp. 18360–18367.
Soga, Masashi, et al. “Gardening Is Beneficial for Health: A Meta-Analysis.” Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 5, 2017, pp. 92–99.