Can Nature Be a Lifeline? Three Writers Share Their Stories of Renewal Through the Outdoors
Writers Kathy Slack, Gordon Buchanan, and Andy Hamilton discuss how connecting with nature has been a powerful remedy for challenges such as burnout, mid-life crises, grief, and depression.
Engaging with the natural environment can significantly enhance well-being. It's widely recognized that spending time outdoors benefits both mental and physical health, a concept encapsulated by the Gen Z phrase "touch grass." In their latest books, these authors delve deeper into this idea, sharing how their lives were transformed by forging a closer bond with nature.
Their works explore a range of personal struggles, including depression, anxiety, grief, stress, conflicts with neighbors, domestic disputes, work-related burnout, mid-life crises, difficult childhoods, feelings of inadequacy, and a disconnect from personal values. Kathy Slack's "Rough Patch: How a Year in the Garden Brought Me Back to Life" recounts her journey from advertising director to food writer. Gordon Buchanan, a BBC wildlife cameraman, shares his experiences in "In the Hide: How the Natural World Saved My Life." Meanwhile, Andy Hamilton, an author and forager, offers insights in "New Wild Order: How Answering the Call to the Wild Just Might Save Your Life (and Sanity)."