Get outdoors this summer

Deb Johnson, executive director for St. Clair County Community Mental Health. Those of us lucky enough to live in the Blue Water area sometime forget how privileged we are to bask in the sparkling backdrop of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River’s peace, calm, beauty, and harmony. With all the amenities of city life a short drive away, we are also free to enjoy the splendor and mystery of nature. This is never truer than during the summer, when the sights, sounds and landscapes of St. Clair County provide us the opportunity to improve our health by participating in countless outdoor activities, while simultaneously experiencing the joy and exhilaration that comes only from the feel of the sun and a gentle breeze off the lake against our cheeks. Whether we’re picnicking at one of our many public parks, cruising the St. Clair River, taking a swim at Lakeside Park, wandering along the Blue Water River Walk, or bicycling the Bridge to Bay Trail, there is never a shortage of exciting outdoor activities for us to enjoy. Unfortunately, many of us fail to take advantage of all the summer fun our area has to offer. Nationally, Americans who live until the average age of 78 will spend 68 of those years indoors, another 5 years in their car, and only 5 years outdoors! By spending so little time outdoors, we are robbing ourselves of the many physical and mental benefits of nature. Fresh air helps our lungs to dilate more fully and improves their ability to cleanse the body of indoor pollutants like mold, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, and animal dander. Spending time outdoors also lowers heart rates and blood pressure rates, while providing Vitamin D, which is critical for bone growth, cell growth and neuromuscular and immune function. […]

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