Healing in Nature: Why I Asked Someone Else’s Story When I Couldn’t Continue Mine

Last Saturday, I had to make a hard choice: I canceled my solo hike due to a brewing storm. The winds were too strong, and safety had to come first. I was disappointed—frustrated even—but something inside me shifted when I decided to listen instead of climb. Sometimes healing isn’t about reaching the summit—it’s about what the mountains teach you when you pause.

Instead of sulking, I turned to someone who’s found peace and strength through nature time and time again—my partner, Keen Reed, a mountain guide and experienced hiker who’s spent years exploring some of the Philippines’ toughest trails. He has climbed Mt. Guiting-Guiting (G2) in Romblon, known as the Galápagos of Asia, the majestic Mt. Madjaas in Antique, and is now preparing for Mt. Mantalingahan in Palawan, one of the last untouched wilderness frontiers in the country.

Sometimes, when we can’t continue our own path, observing another’s journey offers unexpected insights. Through Keen’s stories, I gained a deeper understanding of healing, grounding, and how nature gently reminds us to slow down and trust the process. And that’s the story I want to share with you today.

The Mountains as a Mirror: Why Healing Often Begins in Silence

When you’re surrounded by the noise of daily life—phones buzzing, deadlines looming, social expectations weighing you down—it’s hard to hear your own heart. But out in the wild, with nothing but the rustling of leaves and the crunch of your boots on earth, you finally listen.

That’s what happened to Keen.

“I didn’t hike to escape. I hiked to remember. To remember who I was before the pain, before the chaos,” 

He once told me as we sat watching the sunset spill over the hills, painting the sky in quiet gold.

Watching Keen in that moment, I realized that silence can be as powerful as any climb. The stillness didn’t just comfort him—it reflected his inner world at him, showing where healing had begun and where it still needed to go.

For Keen, Mt. Guiting-Guiting (G2)—with its knife-edge ridges and punishing trails—wasn’t just a climb. It was a confrontation with fear, doubt, and emotional weight. That mountain forced him to slow down, take one step at a time, and reconnect with his breath. It grounded him—literally and emotionally.

And science echoes this truth. Research from Kaplan & Kaplan’s (1989) Attention Restoration Theory suggests that time in nature restores focus, reduces stress, and helps people process emotions more clearly. Sometimes, the quietest spaces hold the loudest lessons about who we are and what we need to heal.

Grounding Through Nature: It’s More Than Just Dirt Under Your Feet

Grounding, or earthing, is the simple yet powerful act of physically connecting with the earth’s energy—whether it’s walking barefoot on soil, dipping into a river, or lying still on the grass. While some may dismiss it as too spiritual or “woo-woo”, the truth is it has real psychological and emotional benefits.

Keen didn’t read about grounding in a book—he lived it.

He bathed in rivers so cold they made his heart race.
He slept under skies crowded with stars, free from city noise and light.
He dug his fingers into the muddy trails of Mt. Madjaas, gripping roots and rocks just to pull himself higher.

And through it all, something softened inside him.

It wasn’t just about conquering peaks—it was about feeling small yet connected, reminded that he was part of something vast and alive.

Even science agrees. Studies by the National Institutes of Health show that brief contact with natural elements can reduce cortisol levels and support emotional regulation and stress recovery. So when Keen grounded himself in the earth, he wasn’t just touching dirt—he was touching calm, clarity, and healing.

Hiking Isn’t Just for Fitness—It’s for Feeling Again

Healing doesn’t come easily. It’s not about “getting over” pain—it’s about moving through it, step by step. And sometimes, you need nature to help carry the weight when your heart feels too heavy to do it alone.

How Outdoor Adventures Become a Balm for the Soul

1. Disconnection leads to reconnection.
When you’re out of signal, you’re finally in sync—with yourself, with the world, with the present moment. There’s a certain peace in not being reachable, in hearing your own thoughts again without the noise of notifications.

2. Physical exertion clears emotional clutter.
Every sweat-drenched step becomes a small act of release—a letting go of what no longer serves you. Your body moves, your breath steadies, and suddenly your mind feels lighter. Its motion turned into emotion.

3. Natural beauty creates natural gratitude.
Standing atop a misty peak, Keen once told me he felt a wave of gratitude that reframed the struggles of his week. The exhaustion, the worries—they didn’t disappear, but they shrank into perspective. When you stand before something vast, your heart softens.

4. You learn patience.
Whether it’s waiting out a storm, finding your rhythm on a steep incline, or breathing through frustration, nature reminds you that progress isn’t rushed—it’s earned. And through that stillness, you learn to be gentle with yourself.

Even research supports what hikers already know: studies on exercise and mental health (like those published in Frontiers in Psychology, 2024) show that movement in natural spaces reduces anxiety, improves mood, and fosters emotional resilience.

So maybe hiking isn’t just fitness—it’s feeling again, remembering again, healing again.

The Healing Power of Mt. Madjaas: Lessons from Antique’s Hidden Giant

Mt. Madjaas, tucked away in Culasi, Antique, is less touristy and more mystical—a quiet giant often wrapped in fog and folklore. For Keen, it offered something deeper than just another mountain to conquer. It gave him space to listen, both to nature and to himself.

It wasn’t just the climb that changed him, but the stories whispered by locals, the solitude of the forest, and the echoes of his own thoughts on the steep, winding trail.

“It was there I realized—I wasn’t broken. I was tired. Nature didn’t fix me. It reminded me I could fix myself.”

That moment became a turning point. Madjaas didn’t offer a cure; it offered clarity.

And even if you never climb Madjaas, the lesson remains the same: healing often happens in stillness, not in striving. Nature reminds us of what we tend to forget—that we are whole, even when we feel worn down.

Because sometimes, you don’t need to be fixed. You just need to be found—by yourself, in nature’s quiet company.

What If You Can’t Hike? Here’s How to Let Nature In

Not everyone can go on week-long treks across islands. And that’s okay. You don’t need to stand on a summit to feel grounded or at peace. Even small steps toward grounding can mirror the lessons Keen learned on the trails.

Try these simple yet powerful grounding practices—tiny rituals that bring nature’s calm right where you are:

• Walk barefoot on the grass.
  Even five quiet minutes a day can shift your mood and steady your thoughts.
  
• Visit a nearby park or beach. Sit. Breathe. Observe.
  Notice the rhythm of the waves, the sway of trees, the way the wind feels different when you’re truly paying attention.
  
• Keep a small plant near your bed or workspace. Talk to it.
  Yes, really. Connection starts in the smallest acts of care.
  
• Start a nature journal.
  Write down what you notice—the color of the morning sky, the sound of rain, the scent of leaves after a storm.
  
• Unplug once a week.
  Let nature, not Netflix, be your weekend escape.

Because healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes it’s quiet, slow, and made up of tiny, consistent choices.

Looking Ahead: Mt. Mantalingahan and the Mountains Yet to Heal

Keen is already planning his next adventure—Mt. Mantalingahan in Palawan. Known for its rich biodiversity and remote, untouched trails, it’s one of the last wild treasures in the Philippines.

But for him, this isn’t just another climb to tick off a list. It’s a continuation of healing—one more step forward, one more layer shed, one more breath deeper than the last.

And I’ll be there, cheering him on. Not just because he’s my person, but because I’ve seen how each trail reshapes him—how every trek brings him closer to the version of himself that feels whole, grounded, and free.

Maybe that’s what the mountains are really teaching us: that healing is never finished—it’s a journey that keeps unfolding. Each path we take, whether our own or someone else’s, reminds us that growth is ongoing, and nature will always meet us where we are.

Healing Isn’t Linear—But Nature Helps Smooth the Path

Some days, you’ll be ready to climb the tallest peak. On other days, storms will stop you in your tracks. But both are valid. Both are part of the process.

So if you’re searching for healing, maybe it’s time to look outside—really look. There’s a trail waiting for you. There’s a tree with shade. A breeze with your name on it. A river that understands.

Even if your path looks different from Keen’s, the lesson remains: nature invites us to pause, reflect, and renew.

And maybe, like Keen, you’ll discover that nature doesn’t just change your view—it changes you.

FAQs

1. Do I need to be an experienced hiker to experience healing in nature?
No. Healing through nature isn’t about the difficulty of the trail—it’s about presence and mindfulness. Even short walks in parks, beaches, or local green spaces can help you feel grounded and emotionally restored.

2. What is grounding, and how does it help with mental health?
Grounding (or earthing) is the practice of physically connecting with the earth—walking barefoot on grass, touching soil, or sitting by a river. Studies show it can reduce stress, improve mood, and reconnect your body and mind, supporting emotional well-being.

3. How can I start healing through nature if I can’t go on long hikes?
You don’t need mountains to benefit from nature. Simple practices—like walking barefoot, visiting a nearby park, keeping plants indoors, journaling, or unplugging for a few minutes outdoors—can all bring calm, clarity, and grounding into your daily life.

Ready to Begin Your Own Healing Adventure?

You don’t need to go far to start your journey. Begin with what’s around you. Find your patch of green, your stretch of blue sky. Let nature do what it does best—bring you back to yourself.

Key Takeaways:

• Healing begins in stillness. Nature helps you quiet the noise long enough to hear yourself again.
  
• Grounding reconnects body and mind. It’s more than a trend—it’s a gentle return to balance.
  
• You don’t need a mountain. Start small: a park walk, a moment under the sun, a breath of fresh air.
  
• The earth holds what we can’t. When life feels heavy, step outside and let the world remind you how to breathe.

Have you ever experienced healing through nature? Share your story in the comments—or better yet, plan your next nature moment and see what your heart finds at the trail’s end.