Thank you Hari, I feel seen. Although my distractions are not video games, they aren't far off. My experience of 'Outside' were extremely similar to yours as are my physical limitations due to chronic illness. So one again, thank you🥰
I found so much of this relatable that I struggle to distill it into a comment-length comment instead of a lengthy ramble. Gym class (falling down and being called weird), being kept from the outdoors by chronic illness, and something about screens and nature and neurodivergence. My calming video game is Yoshi's Island, a 90's Super Nintendo game. On the Switch you can rewind a few seconds if you make a mistake - easy wins! Also, the way it takes up so much focus is kind of a relief for my neurodivergent brain. For once, instead of attention being sent out in multiple directions, I am concentrating on just ONE THING.
The wanting to focus on just one thing is so real 😂 when I garden, I feel I can do that, but when I can’t my brain is just like ‘pew pew pewpewpew’ - let me chase my fictional dreams and quiet the noise for a while! Thanks for letting me know it resonated, while I’m not glad in one way because I would like you to have more ease in your life, in another it’s nice to connect with someone who understands :)
Well, you can slide me into the Boomer category (75 in exactly 2 months). While I have been among the fortunate who loved nothing more than going on 8-10 mile hikes with my pup, Rufus, in the rest of my life and included in many of my own essays here on Substack, I am a fellow traveler on the 'Quit the Shaming!' bandwagon. Looking forward to your next offering. Be well, however that works for you.
Just … from a fellow chronically ill “nature person” who sometimes doesn’t leave my house or screens for days on end … just feel better. We’ll be here.
I wonder if most of your readers are geezers (like me). In any event, although at age 66 I can relate somewhat to aches and pains and various maladies that keep us indoors or more sedentary outdoors, please do let us other nature writers know if we are "ecosplaining" or eco-virtue-signaling (perhaps we need a better neologism for the latter term). From my perspective, you yourself have got nothing to prove, no objectives but your very own outside. Most any time out there is well spent (except, you know, if it's shitty or buggy or you're feeling crappy yourself). 😀 🍂
Thank you Hari, I feel seen. Although my distractions are not video games, they aren't far off. My experience of 'Outside' were extremely similar to yours as are my physical limitations due to chronic illness. So one again, thank you🥰
I’m glad I could make you feel that way. It’s a funny old life, we have to use what we’ve got to make the best of it!
I found so much of this relatable that I struggle to distill it into a comment-length comment instead of a lengthy ramble. Gym class (falling down and being called weird), being kept from the outdoors by chronic illness, and something about screens and nature and neurodivergence. My calming video game is Yoshi's Island, a 90's Super Nintendo game. On the Switch you can rewind a few seconds if you make a mistake - easy wins! Also, the way it takes up so much focus is kind of a relief for my neurodivergent brain. For once, instead of attention being sent out in multiple directions, I am concentrating on just ONE THING.
The wanting to focus on just one thing is so real 😂 when I garden, I feel I can do that, but when I can’t my brain is just like ‘pew pew pewpewpew’ - let me chase my fictional dreams and quiet the noise for a while! Thanks for letting me know it resonated, while I’m not glad in one way because I would like you to have more ease in your life, in another it’s nice to connect with someone who understands :)
Well, you can slide me into the Boomer category (75 in exactly 2 months). While I have been among the fortunate who loved nothing more than going on 8-10 mile hikes with my pup, Rufus, in the rest of my life and included in many of my own essays here on Substack, I am a fellow traveler on the 'Quit the Shaming!' bandwagon. Looking forward to your next offering. Be well, however that works for you.
Just … from a fellow chronically ill “nature person” who sometimes doesn’t leave my house or screens for days on end … just feel better. We’ll be here.
I wonder if most of your readers are geezers (like me). In any event, although at age 66 I can relate somewhat to aches and pains and various maladies that keep us indoors or more sedentary outdoors, please do let us other nature writers know if we are "ecosplaining" or eco-virtue-signaling (perhaps we need a better neologism for the latter term). From my perspective, you yourself have got nothing to prove, no objectives but your very own outside. Most any time out there is well spent (except, you know, if it's shitty or buggy or you're feeling crappy yourself). 😀 🍂