It’s Monday 30th March and I’m sitting outside on a covered terrace typing this in full “winter gear”, listening to the little pellets of rain hitting the leaves and the occasional slosh of a passing car in an otherwise completely silent street.
The book that keeps coming back to me at the moment is Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” (a real place near Boston, now under the protection and stewardship of The Walden Woods Project which was founded by Don Henley in 1990).
Thoreau lived in a (very) tiny cabin in the woods near a pond for 2 years and 2 months, quietly observing the passing of the seasons without electricity and living simply, completely in tune with the ebb and flow of light and dark.
During his 26-month solitary experiment (or better, “experience”), Thoreau made detailed notes about the wildlife and wild plants he found, filling his days with journaling, even noting the precise dates when the pond froze and thawed.
From quiet berry picking in the autumn to the new buzz of springtime, Thoreau lived in total sync with nature, waking to a chirping alarm clock although he was sometimes troubled in the solitude of the darkness of night, sleepless and alone with his thoughts.
“We need the tonic of wildness…we can never have enough of nature”
Henry David Thoreau
Despite his love of solitude (far from the gossip and maddening crowd) he would leave 3 chairs outside his cabin for visitors. Also, two or three times a week he’d venture into the nearest village, Concord, to socialise and catch up on news.
As we face (or as some might say embrace) however many months of “lockdown” (or safe harbour) it will turn out to be, Walden is a reminder of what a lifeline the healing power of nature is. Forests, tree-lined streets, the beach (for those lucky enough), or just pottering in a small garden.
I’m lucky, I have a terrace here for the time being, but for those in strict confinement without a green view or outside space, just watching nature documentaries can help soothe the limbic system. (Listening to nature meditations also!)
I watched some eco home videos this weekend – check out Kirsten Dirksen’s YouTube channel, it’s brilliant. From clever folding beach flats to a (gorgeous!) small stone tool shed in Spain with million euro views looking out towards the island of Ibiza.
Anything we can do to calm down our “fight or flight” instinct right now is a tonic for the soul – meditation, cooking, comedy, movies, reading, yoga at home, dogs, cats, breathing exercises, a short walk. No wonder fruit and veg seeds are selling like hot cakes.
I think it would have been easier and in some ways less strange-feeling if this virus had struck 3 months earlier, it’s just much easier to stay home in cold, grey weather but now that spring is here we want to get outside.
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order”
John Burroughs
I had a really quiet weekend, mainly cooking and freezing fresh chopped veg (this week I’m making a variety of mason jar salads which keep for a few days in the fridge), reading and walking as well as watching YouTube. Some of the channels I’m following are:
Rich Roll (a lawyer turned plant-based endurance athlete, his podcast interviews go way beyond fitness and nutrition – recent guests include Dan Buettner (Blue Zones) and one of the world’s top longevity experts, David Sinclair, Ph.D).
Dr Rangan Chatterjee (cannot say enough good things about this much-loved, wonderful man! Love his interviews and his wise, insightful intelligence and advice around health in general)
Kirsten Dirksen (lots of eco home videos in beautiful settings, really inspirational)
Deepak Chopra (who took a week off and is back now)
Marisa Peer (a hypnotherapist, she’s just uploaded some new meditations specifically on how to cope in the current cv climate,in the last week or so, so check them out if you’re feeling a bit anxious or unsteady)
Jimmy Fallon (who’s doing his show from home with his two little daughters – so sweet to watch)
How are you managing “home alone” or “home with the family”?
Wherever you are, keep well and stay safe.
This too shall pass x
