Spring is assuredly here! The bad thing is so is the pollen. Yep, there is no spring without the relentlessly icky pollen.
Growing up in the country, we knew nothing about pollen count. And I don’t remember suffering from itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, and other allergy symptoms when playing outside at the onset of spring.
Well, I sure needed an alert a couple of days ago before going out to take pictures of my popping red azaleas, blooms-galore pear, and plum trees. After twenty minutes or so, I felt like a blowfish. My sinuses suffered a good seasoning of that yellow, green stuff from the trees and plants.
But pollen wasn’t a big deal growing up.
Aah! The great outdoors! Fresh air, green grass, dandelions, four-leaf clovers, we were can’t-have-too-much nature devotees growing up. Our problem wasn’t the pollen. We had to watch out for those pesky flying insects, wasps, bumble bees, hornets, and creepy crawling bugs. But even those things didn’t stop me from walking and running barefoot on the green grassy carpet and the cinnamon sandy plains.
The yard was our playhouse, with no shingled roof or closed doors. Vitamin D deficiency didn’t exist with us. That’s because nature deficit disorder was one thing we didn’t have growing up.
What kind of disorder is that?
Nature Deficit Disorder is a disconnection from nature or our natural environment. This disorder can affect not only children but also adults.
Have you ever played store manager as a kid?
We opened a local outdoor food market with fresh eggs, bread, bacon, and more. You could practically buy any imaginary thing you wanted. Every shopper or sibling had money.to spare. Suppose the grocery bill was $7.25. You would give the cashier one large green leaf, two smaller ones, and a quarter-size rock.
And you left the store with a bag of imaginary goodies.
Home buyers still buy homes with yards, but kids are more likely to stay inside post-pandemic. Today’s kids and youth prefer palm-size screens to the blue horizon. Cell phones, tablets, and other communication devices trump being outdoors.
Children and youth are likelier to stay indoors because of technology, the convenience of electrical outlets, and comfy couches. What a great disregard for Mother Nature and all she has to offer.
My teenage grandchildren are no different. They know nothing about the aromatic scent of the outdoors after a spring shower. They are city kids. They prefer indoor areas with one or more outlets near their repose.
When my children were little and grew into teenagers, we found ways to enjoy the outdoors: going to the park, having picnics, playing softball, doing cartwheels, walking, running, and so many other activities.
Mother Nature is always ready to cheer us up and make us more knowledgeable about her ways. The many different birds, squirrels, and other things that fly, run, and crawl will capture one’s attention for hours.
The outdoors is the playhouse for all of God’s creations, including us.
Spend some time outdoors, plant a shrub, tree, flowers, or a small garden to avoid the dreaded Nature Deficit Disorder. Ride your bike in the yard or a park.
I am still a student of nature, but I have to watch out for those pesky mosquitoes.
Be well.