I live and work in a city; It's not a bad city as it has a relatively small population of only about a million people or so, and that's in the greater area, not just the city; Definitely not a metropolis. It's still far too congested for me though; Too many people and too much noise. Still it's where I have to be right now due to work commitments. My work takes place inside a building generally although I am fortunate enough to be able to come and go as I please and pretty much set my own hours. I'm lucky I suppose and I like my job...However...
I don't really feel alive when I'm working. Well, more to the point, I don't feel like I'm living my life. I am in the position of having to work to sustain my life and so going to work is a necessity rather than a choice at the moment however I work hard at making my life count away from work, not at work. I'm pretty focused when at work and seem quite able to achieve results commensurate with my efforts and of course there's a certain feeling of reward or satisfaction in a job well done however it's when I am away from work when my life truly comes to life and so I work hard to make my life count in the areas that are most important.
As someone who loves the outdoors and has many hobbies around that I find I'm often in the countryside and always marvel at the way my shoulders drop and I relax when I see fields, lakes, forest or scrub land around me as I drive into the country. I'm not sure if fresh air releases feel good endorphins in the brain or something but for me I feel...Well, more alive. I follow a steemit user @danielapetk who endorses the practice of grounding which I understand is also sometimes called earthing. I don't know a lot about it however I certainly understand that being closer to nature, the planet as such, makes me feel more a part of it; The feeling endures for some time afterwards also. It's strange but welcome.
It's been three weeks since I have been out to the [large] cattle farm where I cull (usually weekly) and I really miss it. Being Autumn now it's pretty much dark by 6pm but I still usually go and stay out there until about 9pm walking around culling. It can be a little spooky of course but the solitude and silence (except for nature sounds, and the occasional gunfire) seems to recharge and centre me I guess. Sunrises and sunsets tend to amaze me as well and out on the farm, in the hills, I almost get the feeling they are there just for me. I'm lucky to have this location so close to where I live and of course the permission to access it.
I wonder sometimes if other people feel the same way as I do and what health benefits, if any, a trip to the country can have on a person. For me it means a great deal to get out into the countryside, to breathe some fresh clean air and listen to the sounds of the planet rather than the sounds of people.
[- Design and create your ideal life, don’t live it by default -]
Sounds nice. I'll have to join you one day.
It’s a nice spot for sure. I’m there to do a job of course however it’s an awesome time to relax and recharge also. I go Thursday’s mainly and by that point of my week I need it!
Some people can't relax, because it's 'work', but you gotta cherish the moment :)
I like to sit at the beach and just listen to the ocean and feel the sand beneath my feet. Any time I get to myself, which isn’t much is spent at the beach. As I live in a tourist hot spot I often have to drive further up the coast to do so without a million people around but it is well worth it. It calms the soul and makes me feel connected to myself again.
I don’t imagine you’d get a lot of time to yourself so I can imagine how important it is to you when you do get some. The beach is good. We go a couple times a week. Either walk on the beach or the track beside it then watch the sunset.
I feel the exact same way! There is something to grounding for sure. Apparently walking barefoot on the beach is a perfect way to do just that, and it might explain why a "beach day" is always so rejuvenating.
When I lived in Vancouver and was feeling stressed, if I walked the seawall, with the ocean at my side, the view alone seemed to open up my chest and release all the negativity inside of me. I truly felt it was a blessing to have that in my own back yard.
I think that many people have unfortunately lost that connection with nature, but if you have it, hold on tight to it, because it is essentially who we are, what we are made of, and how we are supposed to be.
Humans tend to want to pave everything in hard-stand; Concrete, pavers and bitumen seem to be the new grass in a constant search for more space for people to live and drive on.
So true...the new grass...just makes me sad. It's a perfect example of humans trying to control their surroundings as opposed to living with it all.
Many disagree with me but I'm a big advocate of a zero-human planet. Yes, I know, radical right?
Hows's big B going, and how are you coping also?
"zero-human planet"...radical, but makes perfect sense to me ;)
Big B is having a tough time with his Burning Mouth Syndrome now...nothing we try is really helping and the poor guy said of all the pain he has experienced, this one is the worse by far. He's getting near 'finished' if it doesn't clear up soon. It is so strange to think that this 'odd' syndrome could be the straw, if you know what I mean; it's a head shaker to say the least. I'm doing ok, mostly because I focus on trying new 'treatments' ect...diversionary tactics really, but I'll take it.
Thank you so much for asking. Brian just said, "he's a good guy"...I agree.
Sounds bloody horrendous for both of you. Sometimes it's easy to forget the people who rally around the ill person and that whilst they don't suffer the illness personally, they suffer through it. Hopefully some relief can be found for both your sakes and the big guy can push on. Say hi to Brian, and tell him to soldier on.
Thank you so much for that...I do sometimes get lost in the shuffle...never by Brian though ;) He says 'hi' back, and you made him smile with your "soldier on" comment. Thanks for that too !
I have felt that way all my adult life. Living in the city got to be so oppressive I moved away. I live in a heavily wooded area with large open spaces around and can find places of solitude where nature is allowed to survive without interference from mankind.
There is nothing more relaxing than to work outdoors where the only unnatural sounds are those I make and where a long break, sitting against a tree and eating lunch is so vastly more satisfying than eating in a restaurant, it has to be experienced to know the difference.
Will
Mate, you just made me miss the countryside even more! “ Sitting against a tree eating some lunch” so good! I’m lucky as I get to do this sort of thing a lot but over the last three weeks just haven’t had the chance.
A slice of heaven indeed. I am by nature hyperactive and enjoy roaming the outdoors regardless of where or how. I find myself smelling the soil and enjoying every sound that nature offers, soothing to the soul. Haven't done this for some time now and I can feel the pent up frustration in my shoulders. The ideal would be crackle of a fire, the smell of something cooking in the cast iron pot, a cold beer, company that doesn't need conversation (a rare diamond to find)and the sound of night birds with the occasional sigh when looking at the stars. Just great
You must have come camping with me at some stage in a former life because that's exactly what my camps are all about. Watching those stars come alive as the fire dies down to a low glow, the crickets, shuffle of the little beasts just outside the firelight...Heaven!
Takes a rare breed to enjoy true life, when one feels most alive
I always considered that work is not life(with a few exceptions that are really passionate about their work) and life usually begins after 5PM.
Most of us choose a workplace just to make an income and when you only work for money these endorphins that you mentioned in the post are floating away from your brain waiting for that deep breath of fresh and a walk that relaxes you.
My endorphins usually come from walking and biking as I do that often after stressful times and sometimes driving also.
I find it very important to have such activities that involve more the soul than the mind where you can feel nature's connection.
Yes, that connection with nature is so important. I was raised in a small country town and now as an adult I yearn for simpler times.
You're not alone. Going back to nature is a special feeling better appreciated by people like us who work too much. I'm hoping one day my investments in crypto enables me quit my job and travel the World exploring nature
Now that sounds like an amazing use for crypto-millions! I hope it comes true for you.
A lot of us feel the same way you do. I hate the city life and would rather have the freedom to do whatever. Where I live you can't really go for a walk in the evening as it has become that unsafe. Like you my ears prick up to gunshots not from culling but from crime related incidents especially busy on Friday and Saturday nights. We have to do what we have to do but not out of choice. At least you have a farm you can get away to even if it is for a few hours.
Wow, sounds bad. At least the gun shots i hear are ones fired by myself! I can't imaging living in an environment where gunfire and crime is so out of control. I guess many people do though. Australia is considered a reasonably safe place and my little city (Adelaide) has always felt safe to me although there's still places I would not go, especially at night.
I love nature, I'm not an activist or anything, but I feel so much better when I am engaging with it. Today is cool and raining and I simply love it. Sure rain isn't good all the time but we've had so little lately I'm just relishing in the freshness of it. isn't our planet wonderful? if only humans treated it better.
Thanks for your comments @cryptoandcoffee, much appreciated.
I think there really is some truth to this whole fresh air business. And the quiet....Oh dear. I remember sometime last year when I went out in the countryside with some friends (have to admit I wasn't too happy about going, thought it would be boring) and I was surprised how deconnected I felt, how free and how super-quiet everything got. It was amazing <3
So yeah, you definitely have a point here ;)
I love the quiet. Just the kookaburras and the breeze in the trees and field grasses. So relaxing.
The work takes a big time of our life. unfortunatly, most of us work only to make money ,we are not passionat about our work and what we do .
I think we have to manage our time and find time for our hobbie and comforts.
Yes, I agree with you.
This is the exact thing that happened to you? How fascinating.