Nature as an antidote to apathy
We don't get outside enough, and that's why we're all sad.
I’ve been feeling off lately, like I’m not living up to my expectations for myself. I’m either feeling like I’m not creative enough or I’m feeling so creative that I’m immobilized by indecision over what to do.
Of course I have ideas and things I want to do on my list:
Continue writing my book
Start a new book (I stymied this particular urge by writing an in-depth outline)
Make a bee bowl out of oven-bake clay
Write a second part to an in-progress short story
Pick up knitting again (I’ve found it to be quite seasonal)
Make some herbal salves
Play video games with friends and family
And the reality is, weekends are precious, as are weeknights after work. I’ve been feeling particularly drained after the workday lately, and it hasn’t helped. It’s a rut—that’s all. But then the week comes and goes, and it’s the dawn of a new work week, and I feel like shit all over again.
So, after feeling disappointed with myself and my lack of initiative to do something worthwhile, I cut a few herbs and hung them to dry.
Maybe it’s the grounding effect of nature, but it helped.
Something I could feel: The texture of the leaves—smooth, soft, venous.
Something I could smell: The soothing scents of peppermint, spearmint and lemon balm; the richness of dirt and compost.
Something I could see: New growth poking out from nodules; dark spots where water seeped through the terracotta pots; my little vibrant ceramic mushrooms and tiny Kodama figures poking out of the dirt.
At the risk of reductionism: We don't get outside enough, and that's why we're all sad. It’s a good reminder to—and I mean this literally—go touch some grass.
Tell me about how you combat apathy.