You know that nature is free. You probably also know that it’s almost Summer. I live in Los Angeles County and until this very moment, summer and nature have been nowhere in sight. I woke up this morning and – BAM! I got high off a big old hit of sunshine.
Nature is not only free, it is good for your mental health.
I grew up in northern California, where things aren’t always so sunny. Some days, I miss the trees and the rain with a crippling intensity. Watching rain hit my window, while hiding inside with a good book or album is my favorite thing. That fresh smell you get when you’re surrounded by trees almost makes up for those giant fuzzy woodland spiders… almost.
I must admit “majestic forest” is NOT the smell wafting through my window as I write this…
Embrace Your Environment
We live in an urban townhouse with no yard or outdoor space. I love that I can walk to the store or a good restaurant. I love that my son is going to grow up in a super diverse community (you know, like Earth itself). As the mother of a (very) white male, celebrating individuality and fighting for equality is paramount.
I love the people. I love my city. It really is beautiful in a dirty, crowded, poor-air-quality sort of way! When urban life starts to overwhelm you, it is time to head for the trees, or the beach, or the desert, or whatever you can find.
Growing up, it was an hour drive to the beach. The water was frigid and the wind wanted to cut a bitch. We loved it. I’d go whenever I could, because having the Pacific Ocean only an hour away is still a pretty sweet deal.
Now, I live ten minutes from the beach and wouldn’t you know it, I just can’t seem to find the time to go. This is partly because I am a busy, grown woman with a kid. The other reason is that it’s easy to take life’s beauty for granted.
The beginning of summer feels like Mother Nature is reminding us that she’s still here. She’s still glorious, despite our constant attempts to murder her (Sorry, Mom!).
Find Nature Where You Can
There are going to be a lot of days where it’s not realistic to drive to a state park. If you can, do it. Seriously. It’s unlikely that you’ll regret it.
If not, try to start small. I’m going to try to go to the beach more and let my baby eat some sand. Then, I’m going to take my boy to the local nature preserve and let him eat some dirt. Hopefully, he’ll acquire other interests as he grows, but you get the idea.
Sometimes, it seems like everything costs a disproportionately large amount when compared to my income. Do you ever look at something and figure out what it costs in work hours? I do this constantly. It’s awfully discouraging. “Oh, this tank of gas costs five hours of my life. Neat.” A swim in the ocean or a walk through the trees is free. It’s also inspiring. It can counter-act that dejected feeling and strip away a layer of curmudgeon.
Godspeed, city dwellers! Get out there and find your own Walden Pond, even if it’s the abridged version.