The Garden Path

She stepped carefully along the garden path, noticing the dew on the leaves. Exposure to green spaces has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood, even with brief interaction (Ulrich et al. 224).

Tending to plants or simply observing them also encourages mindfulness and grounding, supporting emotional regulation (Soga et al. 94). She inhaled slowly, letting the smell of earth and growing things fill her senses.

No rush. No expectation. Nature moved at its own pace, and she let herself follow.

Works Cited (MLA)
Soga, Masashi, et al. “Health Benefits of Urban Allotment Gardening.” Preventive Medicine Reports, vol. 5, 2017, pp. 92–99.
Ulrich, Roger S., et al. “Stress Recovery During Exposure to Natural and Urban Environments.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol. 11, no. 3, 1991, pp. 201–230.