What Makes People Tick?

Recently, I wrote about how I realised that I needed some more happy moments, time in nature and quite simply, time to relax and just be. While I referenced and quoted several articles, there's a lot more information worth sharing and quoting.  For those actually following my posts as I write them (hmmm... maybe one day...), I can confirm that YES, I did it. I spent time in nature. And YES! - It was amazing. It was exactly what I needed. It's almost midsummer here in the northern hemisphere and the days are long. In winter, I sometimes feel lucky to catch even a ray of sunshine as like most people, I'm indoors working during the daytime and barely get (or make) time to go outside. Even then, the skies are grey and the days without snow, rain or hail are often dreary still. Yet now, this close to midsummer, it's light until about 10 pm and heading out into nature after work is actually possible. I'm no therapist or psychologist but honestly, I do very much recommend ...

Today, I'd like to write a bit about something that I've been dealing with for some time now. To say that I'm stressed is a little too simple. To say that I'm depressed isn't quite right either. Rather, I'm tired. Tired of restrictions. Tired of face masks. Tired of spraying disinfectant on my hands whenever I arrive anywhere. Tired of keeping my distance from other people. Tired of not being able to hug my friends when I see them. Tired of being cooped up inside. Tired of working from home. Tired of living my social life through a computer screen. And really, really ready to go back to normal life. Now, before you tune out, this isn't about covid/corona/whatever you want to call it. This is about me. And about how having a few days off from work last week finally made me realise that things need to change before I end up worse off than just tired... It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle somethin...