Two trunked tree in the woods with our house in the distance
Let’s say one makes a decision to open the door and walk outside, spending time in the great outdoors for 365 days. Suppose 232 days have passed. Through cold and hot (well, very little hot), through snow and rain, through drought and deluge…one treks outside and begins to learn more about the earth. One learns to peer very closely at the marvels of nature, at the marvels of people spending time outdoors, at the wildlife which presents itself, at the flowers and trees and plants. One learns so much.
But here’s the question: Is “outside” really better than “inside”?
Red mushrooms growing beneath a log
What are the advantages to stepping outside? Many folks with life-threatening illnesses, confined to beds or wheelchairs, rarely have the opportunity to amble through the woods. Others spend entire lives within a house or monastery, perhaps meditating or praying day and night. Some people thrive indoors. Others thrive outdoors.
What is the gift of the outdoors?
How does it enrich us? Does it matter?
How is it better than spending our minutes inside the house? Or is it any better? Are they equal possibilities, both the same?
Day lily rests in bed of blooming oregano
I have some thoughts, but would love to hear from you first. So many of you readers are outdoor folks, but others spend more time indoors. What do you think? Would you like to spend every day for a year outdoors, or don’t you feel the need? Or, looking at it the other way, do you already spend time every day outdoors and never even think about it?
Denise and the dogs on our five to six mile hike yesterday
Yesterday it was a great time hiking with my friend Denise and her dogs along Bayshore Road outside of L’Anse. We walked and walked. However, we were so busy talking our five to six miles passed in a flash. It didn’t even feel like exercise, until our legs started feeling it.
Loons on the lake. If you squint, you'll probably see them.
Today Barry and I worked in the garden. We harvested all the peas, pulled up the pea plants and took down the pea fence. Seems like a huge space opened up in the garden, a space where the squash and cucumbers can now spread. The onions have mostly fallen over and need to be plucked, as well. We’ll keep them in the basement and eat them until Christmas.
Signing off now, really hoping some of you will share your thoughts about outdoors versus indoors.
Thank you and goodnight.
11 comments
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August 10, 2009 at 9:39 am
flandrumhill
Yes outdoors IS better Kathy…
When my kids would get antsy indoors, I’d send them outside to run around the house 10 times, regardless of the weather. It usually settled them down. Indoors we have a tendency to not use our large muscles. When exercised, these muscles are the ones most likely to release the endorphins that make us feel really good. For that reason alone, it’s a good idea to go outside every day.
Although many of us might think of reading as an indoor activity, I’ve recently read that studying or reading outdoors in a natural setting improves retention. The all-girl high school I attended had a cloistered garden where many of us would study during our lunches. Maybe the nuns were onto something back then.
Although our homes might be more draft-free these days, there are more problems now with the quality of indoor air. Going outdoors among the trees is a great way to do something positive for you lungs.
So there are three good reasons why we should all try to go outdoors every day
August 10, 2009 at 10:45 am
centria
I can’t tell you how glad I am that at least ONE person is answering this question. So: for exercise and getting those muscles working and endorphins zinging. #2 because it helps us retain knowledge. (smart nuns!) and #3 Outdoor air is better for our lungs and perhaps makes us healthier people.
Three excellent reasons!
Any more? (or will it just be you and me with our ideas, do you think?) Thanks Amy for playing along.
August 10, 2009 at 12:17 pm
flandrumhill
I had more Kathy but I didn’t want to hog all the answers
How about just one more…
Wayne and I saw a Bald Eagle fly just over our heads while out walking in the salt marsh this morning. It was about to land on a tree top but changed its mind when it caught sight of us. We must have been hidden from view by some other trees. I don’t think this could have happened in our living room! Few things are as uplifting as seeing and hearing wildlife in its natural habitat.
August 10, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Kiah
Ok, here’s what I think.. As much as I love the outdoors I don’t think that it is better than the indoors! The outdoors is beautiful and wonderful and should definitely be appreciated..but it doesn’t need to be appreciated at the expense of the indoors. And remember that outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean the woods..stepping outside each day I am confronted with taxis and ambulances and homeless people and street vendors and buildings and the indoors can be a welcome respite. Sometimes outdoors is scary. Sometimes it’s cold. Sometimes it’s stormy. They both serve a purpose and both should be appreciated.
August 10, 2009 at 6:59 pm
centria
Kiah and Amy, two of my favorite people in the whole world! I am SO glad you both responded and gave such rich different views. As you both will see, I am on a passionate role discussing this the last couple of days! Amy, your bald eagle sighting sounds soooooo wonderful. I LOVE it when we see those eagles.
And Kiah that is such a good reminder that the outdoors experience doesn’t always mean the woods. (You know how easy it is to forge that when you’re surrounded by trees, trees, trees everywhere you look.) Had not thought about the welcome respite of the indoors after being surrounded by screaming ambulances and roaring motors and millions of people.
I am into thinking about this whole issue of indoor/outdoor as a metaphor for spiritual internal-external work. And don’t know if I succeeded in expressing this at all, but you two please read this evening’s entry and see what you think.
Thank you BOTH! High fives for answering and sharing. (I can relate to BOTH viewpoints so much.)
August 10, 2009 at 7:00 pm
sahlah
Well I find myself suffering from NDD (nature deficit disorder). I have yet to experience whatever the opposite might be – indoor neediness… ???
We also spend time and money replicating natural experiences inside – examples that come to mind are forms of lighting and fountains.
I think our souls long for that connection to the natural world. I vote for outside.
August 10, 2009 at 7:05 pm
centria
Oh good, Dawn, you voted too! Nature Deficit Disorder is a real thing, I think, that longing to be connected to the great outdoors. And isn’t it true that we do try to replicate this everywhere? Changing the subject almost entirely, I am looking out the window right now and the sky looks blue and black and yellow! Looks like maybe a storm is coming…think I might be experience inner neediness if that rain starts to fall. tee hee…
August 11, 2009 at 7:30 am
Cindy Lou
I’m with Kiah on this one – there’s a place for both the outside and the inside (both literally, spiritually and metaphorically). There’s a certain comfort – especially in the winter – in being in my home surrounded by people and things I love as the cold howls outside. In the summer though, it’s hard to be inside as I know my time is there is limited. As with most things in life, I believe there needs to be a balance between the two.
August 11, 2009 at 6:22 pm
centria
Cindy, balance… Such an important word and concept. And I think the balance is different for each of us! That’s what is so fascinating…that we’re all so different and reach where we need to be from pursuing different paths and, yet, the place where we feel the most balanced and whole may be so smiliar…
August 9, 2011 at 6:24 am
Elisa's Spot
Hmmmmmm
My heart sings OUTDOORS, straight away.
But the body says, heavy, nah, no go, it’s fine, bugs
and then my ears say…swishing and damp grass, leaves talking, favorite birds talking
the heavy muscles say, well maybe a stetch might feel nice if we go slowly
and the lungs say, yeah and not get short of breath
the light in the mind brightens with hope
that we will get outside
I thank you for taking me, on days I cannot go, with you, with your words, with my own memories and travels, thank you.
August 9, 2011 at 7:24 am
Kathy
Oh Elisa what a lovely description of the different parts of self with all their differing opinions about outside/inside! I love it. My bum is very upset about the recent hike to the eagle pond. A spider must have crawled inside and bit it repeatedly. It hurts badly and wants to stay inside forevermore. Thank you for enjoying the sharing.