Give the Gift of ENLIGTEN - for Many Wonderful Reasons . . .

For the past few days I've been writing about ENLIGHTEN, the outdoor light, color, music, and art extravaganza from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and how it makes a fantastic gift to give the ones you love. Today I want to share just a bit more from my visit to ENLIGHTEN with my family and how you are able to experience this with the ones you love.

My husband and I have a grandparent's membership at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - we typically visit once a week, so being able to see sculptures with which we are quite familiar in a new and unexpected way is really quite wonderful. My entire family especially enjoyed the sculpture Neuron which is a truly interesting and amazing sculpture on its own, but when it was ablaze with color and light, it was incredible to say the least!

The large waterfall is one of our favorite places at Meijer Garden, to see it lit with lights and color was awesome! The laser lights even caused the trees around the waterfall to be awash with sparkly color and light - it is SO beautiful and is one of my favorite destinations in ENLIGHTEN.

Winter around West Michigan is often very black and white - the trees do not have leaves on them and the ground is often covered with snow, but the trees throughout the park at Meijer Garden had so much color from the lights which ENLIGHTENED everything - it is absolutely a delight to be able to experience this - especially with the ones you love.

Studies repeatedly show art and being around nature benefit us in just some of the following ways - 

• It nurtures creativity.
• Art stimulates intellectual growth.
• It provides emotional solace. 
• Art is a universal language which can convey complex ideas and emotions, often bridging gaps where words fail. 
• The arts provide a constructive outlet for stress relief and emotional expression. 
• It encourages critical thinking, allowing individuals to explore different perspectives and question the status quo. 
• For children, engaging with the arts is an essential part of development. 
• It aids in the cultivation of fine motor skills, enhances visual learning, and fosters creativity and problem-solving abilities.
• Art not only boosts children's confidence but also contributes to their overall cognitive and emotional development.
• Nature can be an effective tool to manage stress.
• It may be able to combat stress and its effects. For example, one study showed exposure to nature can regulate the sympathetic nervous system in as little as five minutes.
• Research indicates exposure to nature can be an effective coping strategy for those with chronic mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• There is evidence showing nature exposure is associated with better cognitive function — like memory, attention, creativity  and sleep quality.

You will find more about how art benefits all of us at this link, and how being around nature benefits us as well at this link.

So, giving the gift of ENLIGHTEN to the ones you love will not only provide an amazing experience for you to all share together, but it is actually a healthy gift because you will be around art, nature, and will be spending a fun and engaging time together with the ones you love! It is the perfect gift - for so many wonderful reasons!

As I have been writing for the past few days, if you are looking for a gift to give the ones you love which is more than the typical sweater or toy, or if you want an extra special gift for the ones you love, which will bring you closer in a shared experience and benefit your health, you will find giving the gift of the Experience of ENLIGHTEN is absolutely the gift you want to give. You will find the details for getting your tickets at this link!