I hated going outside as a child. Dirt was disgusting, the wind was unwelcome, and it felt like there was nothing for me to do.

Nature seemed dull, exceptionally dull.

Looking back, I spent the majority of my time indoors with TV or Nintendo and I was discouraged from spending time outdoors or developing outdoor hobbies.

It was only when I left my parents home and went to university that I picked up the habit of daily walks. I was 18 when I realised there is healing energy in green places, and nature started to change my life.

I still go for frequent walks, and have since adopted barefoot walking in the spring and summer. I’ve learned that my mental health seems to demand prolonged hours offline and outdoors - I never realised the importance of physically grounding myself as a depressed teenager who never went outside.

I’m not sure if you can personally relate to being raised as an ‘indoor child’ like me, but it’s sobering to remember that my stunted relationship to nature was the unfortunate result of having a sedentary family and friend culture rather than my true preference.

Makes me wonder how many of our ‘preferences’ are real - how many of our ‘natural choices’ are outdated stories which we haven’t challenged?

I’m still learning how to drop those old stories.

Jordan