How Parks Keep Us Connected

20 snips

Jul 3, 2025

Stacy Bare, a mountaineer and veteran, shares his journey of healing through nature after combat trauma. He discusses the crucial role of parks in promoting mental well-being and community connectedness. The conversation dives into personal stories of transformation through outdoor experiences, emphasizing the need for accessible green spaces. Stacy advocates for protecting these natural environments from development threats and encourages listeners to engage with their local parks, fostering both personal resilience and community ties.

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ANECDOTE

Awe Healing From Trauma

Stacy Bare recalls a moment of negative awe in Iraq when a dog was eating a man who looked innocent.
This horrific moment fueled his pursuit of positive awe experiences in nature to heal from PTSD.

INSIGHT

Small Awe Moments Add Up

Small moments of awe, like light shifting on trees or a plant growing through concrete, accumulate to heal and inspire.
There is no diminishing return in seeking awe and beauty in nature.

ANECDOTE

Nature Brings Hope and Continuity

Stacy Bare finds hope and connection through seasonal changes and small family outdoor rituals like planting raspberries.
Such daily moments motivate him to keep going despite challenges.

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From childhood adventures to post-trauma recovery, explore how our parks support our well-being— and why access to them matters.

Summary: Nature has long been a source of wonder, healing, and connection. But access to those green spaces—from neighborhood parks to national treasures—are increasingly at risk. In this episode of The Science of Happiness, we hear how awe-inspiring outdoor experiences can help us feel more alive and less alone, and what we can do to protect those spaces.

How To Do This Practice:

Step outside with intention, even if it’s just to your backyard, a nearby park, or a patch of grass.
Pause and take a few deep breaths to ground yourself and shift your attention from doing to simply being.
Notice the details around you. The movement of leaves, the pattern of clouds, the sound of birds or distant traffic.
Look for something that surprises or moves you, no matter how small, like a weed blooming through concrete or shifting light on a tree.
Let yourself feel whatever arises, whether it’s wonder, calm, grief, or joy—there’s no right way to experience awe.
Before you return indoors, take a moment to reflect on what you saw or felt, and how it might shift your day or perspective.

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode.

Today’s Guests:

STACY BARE is a climber, mountaineer, and skier. Climbing helped Stacy recover from PTSD from a year in Baghdad as a Civil Affairs Team Leader in the Army. He is the recipient of the Bronze Star for merit and a combat action badge and named one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year for 2014.

Follow Stacy on Instagram: @stacyabare

Add Stacy on Linkedin: https://tinyurl.com/49zazw8f

Related The Science of Happiness episodes:

The Healing Effects of Experiencing Wildlife: https://tinyurl.com/bde5av4z

How to Do Good for the Environment (And Yourself): https://tinyurl.com/5b26zwkx

Experience Nature Wherever You Are, with Dacher: https://tinyurl.com/mrutudeh

Related Happiness Breaks:

How To Ground Yourself in Nature: https://tinyurl.com/25ftdxpm

Pause to Look at the Sky: https://tinyurl.com/4jttkbw3

A Walking Meditation: https://tinyurl.com/mwbsen7a

Tell us about your experience with this practice. Email us at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or follow on Instagram @HappinessPod.

Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap

Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/3fv7695k