Places I Love to Go When I'm Feeling the Seven Universal Emotions

     As individuals, we all have our own emotions; but there are seven emotions that scientists have
deemed to be universal. They are sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise, and contempt.
These emotions are basic, but they can be strong sometimes. Here is a list of places that I go when
I’m feeling some of these emotions.

Anger

Ice Skating

No, I’m not the best at ice skating, but I take all of my anger and let it out on the ice.
It’s hard to be upset while doing something that’s so graceful.

Fear

Nature 

It’s like nature inspires me to be courageous; the fact that birds don’t come out of an egg knowing how
to fly, but they can take the chance and keep trying, knowing that every time they try there’s a
possibility they can fall. Another example is that every animal has a predator yet they take chances
coming out and don’t let that stop them from living their lives though every second they’re out there’s a
chance they can die. Seeing trees grow tall and proud their whole life before getting cut down along
with a million other characteristics of nature makes me want to take risks, live life, and have fun while
I can because death is inevitable. We all can’t be good at everything so there’s always a chance I can
fail, but I have to try just because there’s always also a chance that I can succeed.

Happiness

The Mall/ stores I love

When I’m happy or proud of myself, I spoil myself or the people I love because I’m in such a good
mood. I buy thoughtful “just because” gifts and also when I’m happy, I feel beautiful, so I dress up kind
of nice, and put in effort and stores are public places so I kind of show off my confidence. I also have
mini dance parties in my dorm because nobody else is watching so it’s fun and makes you feel free
and happy which is the BEST combination

Sadness

The movies or nature

When I’m outside I feel free; and something about that feeling helps my tears come out and not literally
but figuratively it almost feels like even though I’m free, I’m being embraced by the Earth because I am
one with it. The wind stops my tears by drying them, the ground soaks my tears up, and just by looking
at my surroundings I can see that life goes on which cheers me up; it’s basically involuntary advice

I’m extremely good at making myself even more sad when I’m sad; every movie has a sad point or a
few sad points, even comedies. I ALWAYS cry at the sad points and when I’m crying at the movie,
I cry even harder thinking about whatever is making me sad at the same time. It helps me to get
everything out in a way since I hate going to friends and telling them I’m sad.

I only did 4/7 of the universal emotions because I don’t have a place for disgust, surprise or contempt;
but if any of you readers have places for these, comment yours as well as your reasons why you go
there.

BOTW 4/22

By Paige Waskow

The Water Will Come:

Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World

by Jeff Goodall

What is it about?

As climate change and sea level rise become more and more relevant to our lives, what happens to the cities and people on the coast lines? Jeff Goodall dives in the history of water, our present struggle with fighting flooding, and what to expect as we welcome our underwater future.

He gives many examples of cities that have watery histories and presents such as Venice, Miami, and New York City. From reporting on good solutions or band-aid over bullet hole type plans that cities have, much like the title, Goodall explains what is happening with rising sea-levels and how we will have to face them no matter what.

                                                

       via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

I read this book during July 2018 while camping in Colorado. Although the book was mainly about water systems, it also talked about other climate change affects taking place in our world right now. As I sat and read under the pine trees being killed by thriving beetles, Goodman described the phenomenon and how it connected to climate change. I literally was able to look up and see the dying trees. I was able to see the effects of climate change in action, and it was mind blowing.

Goodall does a great job of making climate change real and relevant. Often, we see climate problems as something far away or as a future problem. Although it will be a future problem, it is also a now problem. In his reporting, he describes many cities and how we are already struggling to manage changing water systems. I found the writing to be a fantastic mix of scientific data, dialogue, and storytelling. This book is so interesting and gave real insight to what we are facing as a world. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to learn more about climate change or simply wants a good book to read.

Where can you get it?

This book is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. You can get a library card for free anytime the library is open. The closest location is downtown on 4th street. You can visit their website here!

Happy Reading!

BOTW: March 27

By Paige Waskow

Nature Anatomy

By Julia Rothman

What's it about?:

Basically a fun and beautiful field guide, Nature Anatomy takes you through the natural world in vivid watercolor drawings and descriptions. You can learn about the origins of the universe, classifications of trees, and the difference between a carpenter and bumble bee. The book gives you the environment in detailed and unique pages, fun crafts to try, and much more. You won't come away bored (even if you're not a nature nerd like me!)

 via GIPHY


Why did I choose it?:

I love nature! And I love books that explore the outdoors. This book is an easy read and always fun to come back to. If you are looking to read the whole thing, or open its pages randomly, this book offers a field guide experience: learn as much as you'd like, but there's not a plot to follow.

As mentioned above, this book has a beautiful art style of watercolor with bold but not limiting sketched outlines. Whether or not you even read the descriptions, the art is enough to boldly stand out and make the book a wonderful experience.

Where can you get it?:

Nature Anatomy is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. You can get a library card for free anytime they are open. Check out their website and request books here!

Is there anything else you should know?:

Julia Rothman has also written books about food (Food Anatomy) and farms (Farm Anatomy) which are in the same colorful, field guide style as Nature Anatomy. I highly recommend! If you are interested in learning more about the author and her works, check out here website here!

via GIPHY

References:

Rothman, Julia. Books - Nature Anatomy, https://www.juliarothman.com/books-2#/nature-anatomy/.

Rothman, Julia. Nature Anatomy. Storey Publishing, 2015.

It's Alive!: How to take care of your new houseplant friend

By Paige Waskow

In my last post, I shared some benefits of having plants (you can check it out here). If you are considering getting a new friend but don't want to kill it, fear not! These are a few plants that are easy to grow.

-----

1. Aloe vera: aloes are pretty common succulents that are both drought tolerant and hardy. To take good care of an aloe, give it bright indirect or direct light and water once a week. Additionally, aloes don't need as much water as say a spider plant or philodendron. They are not leafy, tropical plants and stay strong when it's hot and dry outside!

Soaking air plants

Source: Paige Waskow

2. Spider plants: spider plants are awesome plants to have around. If given the right conditions, they grow quite quickly and also produce baby spider plants that you can grow! To take care of a spider plant, give it indirect light (light you can read in), and water it once or twice a week. The soil should always be moist but not wet (they are not as drought tolerant as succulents or aloe). Another easy to care for plant that thrives in the same conditions are philodendrons. They have long almost vine like leaves.

 Striped Succulent
Source: Paige Waskow

3. Air plants: these plants are amazing and are hard to kill. Air plants don't need soil and can live pretty much wherever . The only thing they really need is water, and to do so, soak them in water for about an hour once or twice a week. They can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

4. Succulents and cacti: these plants come in all shapes and styles, but all are pretty easy to maintain. Like aloe, these plants really like sun, warmth, and don't need a lot of water. You can water them once a week, but they may not even need that. When watering, measuring out the water, or having a controlled way to manage it, can help you avoid giving your succulent too much.

It's Always a Great Time to Get a Plant

By Paige Waskow

In a world so fascinated with growth, why not take the idea literally and get a plant? From the medicinal aloe vera to fast growing spider plants and giant elephant ears, our photosynthesizing friends have many benefits to offer us.

In my experience (it could be argued that I may be on the edge of having too many), taking care of plants has always been a positive and gratifying experience. They are bright and green, bringing life into my dorm room. Beyond simply being visually aesthetic, plants have also brought me a sense of calm. They are a way that I can see growth in taking care of something, especially when the bustle of classes and loads of homework make me feel that I am never truly getting anything done. When the dark days of winter arrive and the greenery of the outdoors hides, my room becomes its own vibrant ecosystem.

Beyond my personal love of plants, there are a multitude of research and data regarding them. Plants can provide many benefits to humans, and these are a few:

1. Oxygen and air purity

One could argue that breathing is an important part of existing, and according to many studies and articles, this ABC one included, certain plants help improve both oxygen and air quality in a room. Plants are good at removing volatile organic compounds (aka chemicals that could make you feel sick (NASA 5,8)) and producing oxygen as a result of photosynthesis. Additionally, although more specific to certain conditions, this NASA funded experiment found benefits of indoor plants in tightly sealed buildings with high amounts of VOCs.

2. Reduce stress and increase energy

Plants can help you relax and find a sense of purpose. According to Texas A&M University, many studies have shown that participation in gardening and cultivating plants brings positive mental results and feelings of accomplishment rather than stress (TAMU 13). The university's page also notes that plants in a person's working environment allow for a more energized and positive experience (7).

3. Help in recovery and mental health

Plants are used to help after surgeries and create a stimulating environment for patients. Active care of plants, or even simply having them present made a difference. Patients had better recovery times and were less anxious and fatigued (Treehugger 5). Hopefully, you aren't performing surgery in your dorm room, but these studies only add to the notion that plants have positive effects on both our minds and bodies.

In personal experience, I worked at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for an internship and learned about their Therapeutic Horticulture division. Workers in this department do things such as take plants into hospitals and have interactive community events including plants. If you want to learn more, you can check out their website here.

References:

     “Health and Well-Being Benefits of Plants.” Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University, ellisonchair.tamu.edu/health-and-well-being-benefits-of-plants/#.V7dBbpMrLBI.

     Breyer, Melissa. “5 Health Benefits of Houseplants.” TreeHugger, Treehugger, 13 Feb. 2015, www.treehugger.com/health/5-health-benefits-houseplants.html.

     Healthline Editorial Team. “Importance of Plants in the Home.” Healthline, Healthline Media, www.healthline.com/health/importance-plants-home#health.

     Larcombe, Danica-Lea. “Indoor Plants Don't Just Look Nice - They Are Healthy, Too.” ABC News, 24 July 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-24/living-in-an-apartment-you-should-get-some-indoor-plants/8738556.

     Lee, Sophie. “Why Indoor Plants Make You Feel Better.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 13 July 2017, www.nbcnews.com/better/health/indoor-plants-can-instantly-boost-your-health-happiness-ncna781806.

    

     NASA. “Plants Clean Air and Water for Indoor Environments.” NASA, NASA, spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2007/ps_3.html.

     Missouri Botanical Garden. “Therapeutic Horticulture.” Missouri Botanical Garden, www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/learn-discover/adults/therapeutic-horticulture.aspx.

     Elephant ear photo: Paige Waskow

Get Outdoors 6: Outdoors at Coe

By Paige Waskow

     Want to get involved on campus? Or maybe you want to go on trips but you don’t have the gear or transportation to get there? There are many clubs and opportunities on campus that get you outside and involved! Clubs such as environmental club, outdoors club, and rock climbing club are open to anyone who wants to join.

     In addition, the Alumni Garden is a great space to relax and spend time outside and alone. If you need a break from people or just need some quiet time, the garden is open throughout the week to anyone. The garden also has The Garden Quarto, which is a collection of poems and short stories that is published twice a year. You can enter your short compositions, and they may be in the next issue!

Check it out here!

This is the final post for Get Outdoors! 

Thank you for reading, and I hope that this series has helped encourage you to want to go outside and given you some resources to do so. If you are interested in learning more about why we need to spend time outside, please leave any questions you may have below. Be sure to add any opportunities at Coe you have found that aren’t mentioned here that you think others would enjoy.

Get Outdoors 5: Community Outdoors

By Paige Waskow

  Interested in doing something in Cedar Rapids? Want to go to a fall music festival or buy fresh basil for pesto? There are many opportunities to do so around town. Check out the infographic below to learn about places you can go, volunteer, or buy produce. These are not all the options or experiences that are available, but there is also a link to all the Cedar Rapids events coming up through the end of the year!

Check it out here!

Please leave any questions you may have below. Be sure to add any community outdoor opportunities you have found that aren’t mentioned here that you think others would enjoy.

Get Outdoors 4: The Big Outdoors

By Paige Waskow

What if you want to go camping or on an Iowa adventure, Lord of the Rings style? What is around? There are many places and state parks in Iowa with beautiful landscapes. Most are decently far away, but there are some within an hour of Coe. Whether your interest is in camping or hanging out outside for a day, there are many cool nature opportunities waiting for you! Check out the info graphic below; all the names of the parks have links to the park’s website. You can view all of Iowa’s state parks from it as well.

Check it out here!

Made with Canva

Please leave any questions you may have below. Be sure to add any state parks or outdoor areas you have found that aren’t mentioned here that you think others would enjoy.

Get Outdoors 3: Local Outdoors

By Paige Waskow

What kind of parks and trails does Cedar Rapids have? Can you hike nearby? Can you bike on them? Where do you even get a bike? This post is all about local outdoor areas you can check out pretty easily on a weekend or weekday. Check out the interactive info graphic below to learn more about these locations. 

Click Here to View!

Made with Canva

Please leave any questions you may have below. Be sure to add any local places you have found that aren’t mentioned here that you think others would enjoy.

Get Outdoors 2: Why Does Going Outside Matter?

By Paige Waskow

Welcome to the Get Outdoors blog series! 

This series will come out weekly for five weeks. As mentioned in the last post, we are going to cover the human desire for nature as well as why we are so obsessed with it. In this post, we are going to look at why humans need nature or at least, our mental connection to it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     How many times have you felt stressed? Probably a lot considering that you are a college student or perhaps a professor or really, if we’re all honest, a human. The world is full of solutions to stress, not being able to get work done, and feeling tired. Maybe people have told you to try a new diet, start running four times a week, or have a you day where you relax and watch Netflix. All of these things can work, and often do, but are we really addressing what’s bothering us? How many times have you had to repeat those tasks for a feeling of control? How many times have you bought that one thing and still felt anxious or over worked or simply tired? The media creates a system of buying to feel better, but I think we are overlooking something that defines our mental health and happiness: the great outdoors.

     Many of us live in cities, apartment buildings, or dorms. We then go to class or work, inside, and stare at computers or lecturers as we sit and watch the time go by. Perhaps all we do is homework and then rush to practice before then hanging out with friends. As humans, and especially during this age, we value productivity and immediate gratification. Things have to happen fast and well in order for us to feel successful. But then we complain about how miserable we are and how busy our lives are and how we NEVER get a break. We start to lose hope in our efforts and excitement about what we are doing. But what would nature have to do with that?

     A recent 2015 study by researchers at Stanford University, and covered by the New York Times, looked at how walking in nature versus a busy urban city affected brain stimulation and the thought processes of everyday people. The research was a simple process. Have half of a group walk outside in an urban area and the other half walk in a local nature park and monitor their brain activity before and after their walks. The people who walked in the urban area had high amounts of blood flow to the front of their brains, like they did in the pre-walk brain scan. This, according to the researchers, would indicate high levels of brain activity.

     On the contrary, those who walked in nature had lower blood flow to that part of the brain after walking than their pre-walk test. Although the researchers indicated that more research needed to been done, they suggested that nature has a positive effect on brain activity and how stressed the subjects were. According to the New York Times and head researcher, the results, “‘strongly suggest that getting out into natural environments’ could be an easy and almost immediate way to improve moods for city dwellers, Mr. Bratman said,” (Reynolds 2015).

     Although this is only one study, many websites and sources indicate that nature truly affects us mentally. In Japan, for instance, “nature bathing”, going out into nature to de-stress and engage the senses, is a decently common practice. Florence Williams, a editor for Outside Magazine, reported on Japanese forests in 2012 and documented both her experiences in the forests and with locals as well as fruitful studies looking at the human outdoor experience. According to Williams, one study, by a researcher named Miyazaki, found positive correlations with spending time in nature and mental health. She writes:

     “To prove it, Miyazaki has taken more than 600 research subjects into the woods since 2004. He and his colleague Juyoung Lee, also of Chiba University, have found that leisurely forest walks, compared with urban walks, yield a 12.4 percent decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, a seven percent decrease in sympathetic nerve activity, a 1.4 percent decrease in blood pressure, and a 5.8 percent decrease in heart rate. On subjective tests, study participants also report better moods and lower anxiety,” (Williams 2012).

     Williams continued to document, in her article, that nature is a key part of happiness and sense of connection to ourselves and our world. Beyond this, studies are only growing in the correlation of nature and positive mental health. Of course many things can affect our mental health, but perhaps some of our struggles could be due to our lack of connection with nature and our urban, indoor lifestyles.

     So, how do we connect this to academics and doing well at Coe? Of course, lower levels of stress and anxiety often help performance and being able to get work done. In addition, taking breaks and moving around while working can be incredibly beneficial. By spending time in nature, you may, according to a 2016 Mental Floss article, perform better on tests and be able to focus better than you otherwise would. The study the article covered observed high school students' academic success. Taking time just looking at a natural landscape outdoors in between activities allowed for students to reflect and perform better than students who did not.


     “After the initial tasks, all the students performed equally, but when given ten minutes to stare out the window and relax, the students with a green view seemed to recover more easily from their stressful experience. The students who looked out the window to see green space scored better on the attention tests and were quicker to recover from the stressful educational tasks than their peers who looked at buildings or at a blank wall,” (Ferro 2016).


     Taking even a few minutes to recover and step outside could be helpful to both your mental and academic health. You could perform better on tests, relax, or even just take away some stress so you can get back to studying. While there are many options that proclaim results, nature is free! So what do we do with this information? How do we connect with nature? Perhaps you, like me, new to Cedar Rapids and want to get involved in nature but aren’t really sure how. Maybe you want to simply do something besides classes and want to get off campus. Whether it be local, like going on to a park, more of a trip, like going camping, in the community, or at Coe, there are many opportunities to get outside. Over the next few weeks, posts about how to get outside around Coe will be up and hopefully, you will be inspired to get out in nature.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have any questions, please leave them below. Also, be sure to check out the resources (and additional reading) for this article below.

Happy nature-ing!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Citations and Resources:

New York Times, Stanford Study

     Reynolds, Gretchen. “How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 22 July 2015, https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/how-nature-changes-the-brain/action=click&pgtype=Homepage&region=CColumn&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&WT.nav=MostEmailed&src=me&_r=0


Florence Williams, Japanese Study

     Williams, Florence. “Take Two Hours of Pine Forest and Call Me in the Morning.” Outside Online, Outside Magazine, Dec. 2012, https://www.outsideonline.com/1870381/take-two-hours-pine-forest-and-call-me-morning


Mental Floss, Nature/Academics

     Shaunacy Ferro. “Looking at Nature Improves Kids' Academic Abilities.” Mental Floss, 3 Feb. 2016, mentalfloss.com/article/74787/looking-nature-improves-kids-academic-abilities.


Nature/Academics Study

    Li, D., & Sullivan, W. C. (n.d.). Impact of views to school landscapes on recovery from stress and mental fatigue. Elsevier. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291148332_Impact_of_views_to_school_landscapes_on_recovery_from_stress_and_mental_fatigue.

Business Insider, Benefits of the Outdoors

     Loria, Kevin. “Being Outside Can Improve Memory, Fight Depression, and Lower Blood Pressure - Here Are 12 Science-Backed Reasons to Spend More Time Outdoors.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 22 Apr. 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/why-spending-more-time-outside-is-healthy-2017-7#with-all-this-its-not-surprising-that-outdoor-time-is-associated-with-a-lower-overall-risk-of-early-death-12

Get Outdoors 1: An Introduction

By Paige Waskow

We all value the outdoors.

     Perhaps you read that sentence and completely disagree. You hate bugs, the hot weather, the rain or something in between. But it is true that there is something we all like about it. You may be an outdoor adventurer, rock climbing tall mountains or camping in complete isolation from society. You may be repulsed by the idea of being outside, but you enjoy fake indoor plants and flower tapestries. Perhaps you are somewhere in between, a potted plant is alright and you will take a walk outside once and awhile. Maybe you don’t even think about it on a daily basis.

     But the thing is, as humans, there is something we deem as aesthetic, beautiful, or free about nature and the wilderness. We take pictures of it and post it on social media, we turn it into football fields and golf courses, we make headbands out of flowers and deem their wearers as having a free spirit. But why is that? Why are we so obsessed with nature, and what does or can it really provide for us? 

     In this blog series, we will discuss the importance of nature for our mentality and well being. We will look at how it shapes what we value and want in our world, and how it could even change your work habits. From there, you can learn about the types of nature around you and how you can engage with it. Whether you want to camp, canoe, go on a hike, plant tomatoes, or buy local produce, this series will cover it.