At the time of writing, I am just getting ready to be allowed out the house after our two-week quarantine sentence
At the time of writing, I am just getting ready to be allowed out the house after our two-week quarantine sentence. PTL.
Last night I was thinking about how much I would like to just run around the block, or go to the corner shop, or indeed go to our wonderful local park (we live near Sutton Park which is such an under-appreciated part of Birmingham – I am grateful for it every day – as is our dog – did you know it’s bigger than Gibraltar?).
I think I’ve got a touch of what is known as fernweh (check out the link, but fernweh is apparently the feeling of longing for the great outdoors).
Do you have it too?
I live in the city, but I grew up in a village. As is the case with most things, I didn’t realise until I moved to the city quite what a blessing it was until it was gone. What a gift it is to have a road with no streetlights so it’s properly dark for star gazing, for the sound of cows mooing to be the only thing keeping you awake at night, and to have no outlook in any directions but hills. Beautiful.
Now, I have no desire to go back – I love living in the city.
But there is something about nature, the wild. It is good for our souls.
Here’s a few things I have learned about why we need the great outdoors, the research brought on by my spell in quarantine (and my two weeks of camping that preceded it).
And of course there’s all the obvious reasons for being outside, especially if exercising, it’s good for our health, and therefore our sleep, and also improves longevity.
So, what are you waiting for?
Go put yourself in the way of beauty. Any way that you are able. Go sit in your garden if you have one. Go for a walk in a park if you are fortunate enough to live near one, or go walk along the beachfront if you are one of the chosen ones. If you can’t get outside today, even looking at nature can have this positive impact. Watch a David Attenborough documentary or even something like Race Across the World.
There are so many reasons to be down on this world, but it is a beautiful, beautiful place if we would just take the time to stop and smell the metaphorical and literal roses.
Sutton Park, Pax & I are coming for you.
Yours, with fernweh and friluftsliv,
Hannah x
P.S. Have you seen Alan?