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MIRACLE DRUG
Here’s one for you: go outside and play. That simple treatment is actually being prescribed more and more to patients by primary care physicians. From Outside Magazine: “Exposure to nonthreatening natural stimuli, scientists have discovered, lowers blood pressure, reduces stress-hormone levels, promotes physical healing, bolsters immune-system function, raises self-esteem, improves mood, curtails the need for painkillers, and reduces inflammation.” Doesn’t all that sound nice? Even just reading that has lowered my blood pressure. I think we owe it to ourselves and to those who love us to spend more time going for walks in nature – I’m prescribing that to us all. Disclaimer: I’m not a real doctor.
2
ALTERNATIVELY, JUST WATCH OTHERS PLAY OUTSIDE
For those of you who may not be able to go outside as often as you’d like (seriously, what’s holding you back?), HiConsumption has put together a list of the all-time best outdoor documentaries to inspire you. I’m thinking, this will be useful for our upcoming long weekend (in the US at least): “From the golden sands of Australia, the snow-covered peaks of Chile, and the barren, beautiful wastelands of the great white north, all the way to the provincial expanses of middle America, we’re going to outline a handful of our favorite outdoor documentaries of all time. So if you’re one of the few who is looking to satiate your neverending wanderlust, search no further — let’s dive headfirst into the most inspiring pieces of modern film that will give you a new lease on life.”
3
ANIMAL CRACKERS
There’s no doubt, when we’re visiting new places, we want to take in the sites, the culture, the food, the people, the entertainment and so much more, including the flora (plants) and fauna (animals). I’m willing to put money down that if you’ve been to Thailand, for example, you’ve taken a ride on an elephant. That’s what I’m talking about – we interact with animals, especially exotic ones, much more often when we’re traveling. However, it’s not always fun and games, for them at least (also if you’re afraid of elephants). Sometimes, these animals are working hard to entertain us. Many times they’re even mistreated. Similar to the respect as travelers that we ought to show to local citizens, I ask that we become more aware of local animal plights as well. From National Geographic: “Here’s what you can do to respect animals during your travels.”
In case you’re curious to know more about what animals go through to please us, check out: Suffering Unseen: The Dark Truth Behind Wildlife Tourism.
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SÃO WHAT?
In one of my previous newsletters, I received a comment from a reader saying that they had never heard of one of the places I had written about. Now it’s my turn. I had never heard of the Azores before, much less São Miguel. But now that I have, whaat?! It’s stunning. How could I have missed it all these years. Travel wish list – check! From Lonely Planet: “The twin blue and green lakes that fill the base of the Sete Cidades caldera in the west of São Miguel are so beautiful that it’s no surprise their formation is explained by legend: they are apparently the tears of star-crossed lovers, a green-eyed princess and a blue-eyed shepherd.” The tears of star-crossed lovers…
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INTERNATIONAL PERSON OF MYSTERY
I’m just saying, a second residence somewhere exotic could be a good look for anyone, especially if you’re trying to play that international person of mystery card, or if you have a legitimate need like trying to set up shop for your “other family.” Forbes has put together a list of places in Europe where you can get residency and a second passport. Keep in mind you need some money for this: “The American interested in establishing residency or citizenship in Europe has more options today than ever in history, depending on how much time and money you’re looking to spend to achieve the objective. If you have the budget, for example, you could make a 250,000-euro donation to the arts in Portugal and receive residency and, eventually, citizenship in that country in return.”
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!