As I reflect on my summers spent at camp, I realize they were more than just fun and games. They were opportunities to “weed the garden” of my mind and body, creating space for true wellness and growth. 🌱
Medical school and my years in practice taught me how to diagnose disease and manage illness. But true wellness? That lesson started at summer camp.
🏕️ Camp wasn’t just a break—it was a reset. It was an environment where I could reconnect with my true self, free from the pressures of achievement and the demands of daily life. Unlike school, which emphasized memorization and regurgitation, camp was an immersive, experiential space where mind, body, emotions, and connections were all activated. It was the ultimate wellness retreat before I even knew what wellness was.
The Unspoken Wellness Curriculum of Summer Camp
☀️ Nature as Fuel: We spent more time outside—soaking in the sun (and the rain!), letting the elements regulate our bodies, and learning that nature is its own form of medicine.
🎨 Creativity as Medicine: At camp, we were all artists—painting, sculpting, writing songs, making banners, repurposing old tunes with new lyrics. Whether our creations were masterpieces or disasters didn’t matter. Creativity wasn’t about results; it was about expression.
🤝 Community as Healing: We weren’t just individuals—we were bunk families, connected to our “cousins” in age divisions, part of one big, extended community that gathered together every morning and evening.
⚽ Collaboration & Competition in Harmony: We learned how to push ourselves on the athletic fields, balancing friendly competition with deep collaboration. We cheered each other on, knowing that our victories and losses were shared.
🌿 Mind-Body Connection in Action: Every part of camp was a balanced, full-body experience—moving, playing, feeling, creating, connecting. We weren’t just learning about life; we were fully living it.
Tuning the Nervous System: The Gift of Pause
Just like a garden needs regular tending, so does our nervous system. Every summer, camp gave me the space to reset. I would return home more grounded, more present, and more in tune with the rhythms of life.
This reflection on my childhood reminds me of something I now teach my patients: Moments of pause, no matter how small, are essential to keeping our minds and bodies in harmony.
⏸️ Taking time during the day to stop, breathe, and be present does wonders for the nervous system.
📵 Bookending the day unplugged from social media and plugged into our inner world reminds us that reality is shaped from the inside out.
🧠 Even our sensations are an interior experience—our stories shape our perceptions.
Relearning the Most Important Lesson: Living in the NOW
At camp, I was fully immersed in the NOW.
But somewhere along the way, between medical training and the rush of adult responsibilities, I forgot. I started living in my stories—stories of the past, or of dreams and fears for the future.
It’s taken me years to relearn this lesson. Peace is only ever found in the NOW.
Now, I ask myself regularly:
If I am alive and breathing, I am okay. I can choose to live in peace.
The other feelings?
They’re just stories.
And stories can be rewritten. ✨
My New Definition of a Successful Life: PEACE.
So, I’d love to start a conversation. 💬
What lessons about life and wellness did you take from summer camp—or any immersive childhood experience? Let’s rediscover the simple, powerful truths that keep us well. Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇🏽✨
