Du Petit's Spindle 8306 from my Shellscape collection

I've just gotten home from a walk around Garden of the Gods with my border collie mix dog, Dillie, and our walk in the Colorado sunshine (yep, 60 degrees in December) has me thinking about nature and stress reduction.

Most of us know intuitively that time spent in nature relaxes us, but did you know that research shows that viewing nature in healthcare facilities can reduce stress too?

A fascinating article in the Journal of Healthcare Interior Design speaks about three vital elements in healthcare that can lead to wellness: a sense of control, access to social support, and positive distractions in the design. Here's the link https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273354344_Effects_of_Healthcare_Environmental_Design_on_Medical_Outcomes

That sort of stress reduction in healthcare and residential spaces is my goal with images like this. This Du Petit's Spindle seashell on the beach reminds me of the joy of walking hand in hand with my children, enjoying a seashell treasure hunt. I hope it brings back happy memories for you, too.