I have figured out the secret to overcoming writers' block; have a ton of stuff to do. Seriously. Procrastination appears to be the secret mojo. The more stuff I have to do, the more I want to do none of it and, instead, write. This clears up for me why I always seemed like such a keen writer while in school. Again, like now, there were more tasks than hours in the day, and I managed to fill it with a healthy dose of commentary on life's issue.
I have been reading a book lately (again, more procrastinating) on the loss of natural play in children's lives. Children now spend less time outside in nature, and more time indoors or in manufactured landscapes (playground, fields, etc). The result is a disconnection with nature and a host of social and psychological problems. The book cites studies that link ADHD with nature (time outdoors lessens symptoms), improved learning outcomes in children (children with more nature-based learning had higher test scores), and improved creativity and critical thinking (nature can be combined in infinite ways, while a manicured field of grass is limiting). The gist of the book is fairly simple, but speaks to a theme that is occurring in other areas of research as well. In health care, patients heal faster when provided views of natural settings. House prices increase in neighbourhoods with more green space. Crime decreases. It does seem obvious in hindsight. 'Oh you mean if my child spends more time outdoors than in front of the play station, she's likely to be better adjusted?' According to the book, yes.
When I was younger, being outdoors felt like the default option. I struggle to know how or why that is. I think it was a combination of our parents not having a ton of spare cash, liking to do cool things, and the good fortune of becoming horse and ski crazy at a young age. Winters were spent outside (the local ski hill was within walking distance), and so were the summers. I used to beg my parents to drive me out to the ranch at 8am each weekend morning, and would stay there all day. I'd come home for dinner, we'd have FB time (family bonding), then sleep and repeat. Cable was intermittent, depending on how my dad was feeling that month. Sometimes he'd declare TV the devil, and banish it from the household for months at a time. Instead we'd be forced to watch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles for the 74th time, or whatever was on channel 10. Being outside is still my default choice. Favourite summer-time moments are spent in a tent. Winter time, in a hut.
What am I really trying to say here? Get outside. Humans were not meant to live indoors, and we suffer the consequences of lives led inside of buildings in ways we cannot yet measure.
