As we practice social distancing, all of
us who remain healthy can help ourselves and others by taking a moment to
breathe deep and appreciate the love and joy we share, if remotely. Toward that
end, we’re scheduling posts that uplift, guide, and unite us in these difficult
times.
"When you’re feeling anxious, pausing to appreciate the natural world can be a great way to calm the mind and relieve stress. And it can even be done in quarantine, as professional birder Nick Lund showed us over the weekend. On Sunday morning, Lund called on Twitter followers who were riding out the coronavirus at home to send in pictures of the birds in their backyards. Within hours, a virtual community of birders from around the country had snapped photos of 230 species, from bald eagles to wood ducks to painted buntings. For me, the project underscored how nature can bring people together in a frightening time. There’s something distinctly soothing about the presence of an animal — whether it’s a cardinal pecking at your feeder, a cat sitting in your lap, or, if you’re Arnold Schwarzenegger, a mini donkey and a mini horse joining you at your dinner table. Animals are innocent. They’re stoic. While our world grinds to a halt, theirs carries on. We can learn a lot from them."
— Derek Hawkins
