The Forest Bench

The forest smelled like pine and wet earth. I hadn’t planned to stay long—just a quick walk—but the bench halfway along the trail called me. Moss clung to the wood, softening its edges. I sat and exhaled, letting the forest’s calm roll over me.

Spending time in natural environments has been associated with lower blood pressure, reduced stress hormone levels, and improved mood (Bratman et al.). I could feel it in my chest, a slow release of tension I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

My younger cousin joined me, backpack on the ground, shoes dusty. We didn’t talk at first. Just watched sunlight flicker through leaves. Love in its quietest form exists in shared presence. Not romantic. Not performative. Just noticing each other together.

After a few minutes, I picked up a stick and traced patterns in the dirt. Motivation arose gently. Small actions, like walking or mindful movement, can improve both mental and physical health by combining light exercise with attention regulation (Berman et al.).

We walked a little further, pausing at the creek. Water trickled over stones, reflecting light. Nature provides multisensory stimuli that support relaxation and cognitive restoration (Kaplan & Kaplan). I let my cousin skip stones while I breathed deeply, counting the seconds between each toss.

At one point, he looked at me. “I like this,” he said simply. That statement carried weight. Love between family does not always need words. It exists in the choice to share quiet moments and in allowing each other space to exist without demands.

By the time we left the forest, my body felt lighter, my thoughts steadier. Motivation had shifted from obligation to willingness. Health was not only in exercise or oxygen but in calm, connection, and acceptance of the moment.

Back at the trailhead, I helped him adjust his pack. Unity is not just being together. It is supporting each other in practical, small ways. That day, the forest bench had given more than a seat. It had given space to rest, to breathe, and to remember that love—simple and patient—can be a source of health as much as any exercise or medicine.

Works Cited (MLA)

Berman, Marc G., et al. “The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature.” Psychological Science, vol. 19, no. 12, 2008, pp. 1207–1212.

Bratman, Gregory N., et al. “Nature Experience Reduces Rumination and Subgenual Prefrontal Cortex Activation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 112, no. 28, 2015, pp. 8567–8572.

Kaplan, Rachel, and Stephen Kaplan. The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press, 1989.