March 2, 2025: The Wooded Trails

When’s the last time you wandered a trail?

Not a paved sidewalk, but a dirt path surrounded by the glory of nature?

As a kid, the woods behind my house held a hidden route. A gateway to adventure and endless games. One year, I walked it every day going to summer camp.

Later, the Virginia neighborhood where we raised our kids had tree-lined pathways leading straight to the pool. We must have taken that winding passage a thousand times, towels slung over our shoulders, feet kicking up dust.

Few things in life compare to a shaded stroll. Science agrees.

Studies show that breathing in the smell of the woods reduces stress and boosts the immune system, even increasing virus-fighting cells. Basically, trees are out there saving lives.

Today, we hiked the Powhatan Creek Trail. Pure magic. There are marshes and creeks and a long, timber bridge which opens to a sprawling meadow. Wildlife chittered and chirped all around us. I got my steps in and improved my health. 

Turns out, the fountain of youth just might smell like pine needles.