Hi, Folks,

Here’s a Green Heron, intently focused on what’s to come before it on the American River. While hunting, the heron pays rapt attention to every slight movement and sound happening nearby. To do so increases the probability of its survival. But the heron also knows intuitively when to quit, find a safe, quiet place and restore itself from the effects of this kind of intense concentration.

Now, as a matter of survival, it seems that we, like the heron, need to stay alert even more to what’s happening beyond our own nest. But I think there are limits to what we should expose ourselves to. Technology allows us virtually to be anywhere in this hurting world at any time. Our screens enable us to be exposed to a constant, compelling, even addictive outpouring of local, national and world events containing a high concentration of emotionally charged negative news. Research* has shown (I’m inclined to say, “Well, duh…”) that such exposures can lead to increased feelings such as stress, depression, anxiety, compassion fatigue and worry. So I think we need to know when to hit the “off” switch, take a break, maybe take a walk, and recover from the intensity of this especially difficult time.

Perhaps the walk we take in fact or in mind can be to the river.

Dave

Green Heron and Reflection, American River Parkway ©David Dawson, 2020

*See: https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-the-negative-news-cycle-can-impact-mental-health-1110152; and see:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/why-we-worry/201206/the-psychological-effects-tv-news