• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT
    • MASTHEAD
    • ADVERTISE
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

CURRENT STREET EDITION

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

WELLNESS FOR DEGENERATES: LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

Written by JILLIAN LOCKE Posted October 22, 2014 Filed Under: Drinks, Eats

Our brains and our bodies are in a state of constant overdrive. When that happens, nature has a way of forcing us to slow down, chill out, and start noticing things again.

Like the nuances in our day to day that we take for granted. Say, the nice barista who knows exactly how you take your morning rocket fuel the moment you enter a tried-and-true cafe. Or the park you pass by on your way to work, which is looking particularly breathtaking this time of year. Even that text your best friend sent you quoting the “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” episode you watched together the previous night that left you both pissing your pants. These simple things are noteworthy.

They also help clear our minds. I went for a nature walk the other day. Sure, I should have been writing, cooking, cleaning, and a host of other things, but there was an internal restlessness keeping me from tending to any of these obligations. So I needed to get out. I drove to Horn Pond in Woburn, a two-mile stretch of Walden-esque wonderment boasting several even-woods-ier side trails. It was breezy and the air finally felt like fall after a long stretch of awkward, muggy days. I stepped onto the path and instantly felt better. Trading my bedroom walls for a carpet of leaves and the view outside my window for curtains of towering trees presented an instantaneous shift in mood and well-being. My blinders were off, so much so that I noticed some of my favorite birds, be it that crow with a wingspan so huge that I swear it must have been a turkey vulture (it may have been a raven), seven swans, a woodpecker, and a blue jay. While exploring a side trail, I saw a grey heron and stopped to observe it in solace. While standing in silence, I heard someone approaching and looked up to see a man walking briskly. He looked so content, like there was nothing he’d rather be doing at that moment. As he passed me, he saw what I was looking at, smiled and said, “patience.”

Patience. Stillness. Replacing the static din modern day life muddles our thoughts with via the calming resonance of nature. You have to remember to look around, or risk missing stuff like a soul-melting sunset that, for five brief minutes during a punishing commute home, can set our stresses free. It’s important to become quiet enough to feel the natural rhythm of our bodies, and listen to what they’re telling us, and then responding in kind (remember, our bodies change with the seasons, too).

Our internal clocks are getting ready to wind back and enjoy one more hour of sleep, so rather than fighting it, maybe we should try rolling with it and befriending the longer nights to purposefully reflect on the good, simple happenings of the day.

FURTHER WELLNESS READING

RAISING THE FLAG FOR ALL THINGS PUMPKIN

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

THE SCOURGE OF LYME DISEASE

JILLIAN LOCKE
More from author
  • JILLIAN LOCKE
    https://digboston.com/author/jillian-locke/
    WELLNESS FOR DEGENERATES: FEED THE FLOW
  • JILLIAN LOCKE
    https://digboston.com/author/jillian-locke/
    WELLNESS FOR DEGENERATES: JUST BREATHE
  • JILLIAN LOCKE
    https://digboston.com/author/jillian-locke/
    THE IMPORTANCE OF NOTHING
  • JILLIAN LOCKE
    https://digboston.com/author/jillian-locke/
    THE REAL CHOLESTEROL CULPRIT

Filed Under: Drinks, Eats Tagged With: audubon, bird watching, blue jay, daylight savings, degenerates, Dig Boston, DigBoston, it's always sunny in philadelphia, nature, patience, Pond, slow down, sunset, Wellness, Woburn

WHAT’S NEW

IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

PICS & RECAP: COMMUNITY CANDLE VIGIL HONORING VICTIMS OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE

PICS & RECAP: COMMUNITY CANDLE VIGIL HONORING VICTIMS OF ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE

CAMBRIDGE CHURCH MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT RECENT VANDALISM OF SIGN

CAMBRIDGE CHURCH MINISTER SPEAKS ABOUT RECENT VANDALISM OF SIGN

PRESSLEY MEETS WITH LOCAL 26 WORKERS

PRESSLEY MEETS WITH LOCAL 26 WORKERS

THE HOUR THAT THE SHIP COMES IN

THE HOUR THAT THE SHIP COMES IN

JANEY OFFICIALLY DECLARES THAT SHE WILL RUN FOR FULL TERM

JANEY OFFICIALLY DECLARES THAT SHE WILL RUN FOR FULL TERM

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • VACCINE EQUITY NOW! COALITION ASKS BAKER TO ALLOCATE 20% OF NEW DOSES TO HARD HIT COMMUNITIES by SHIRA LAUCHAROEN
  • A NEW PLACE FOR MORE PEOPLE TO CALL HOME IN TOUGH TIMES by MARK EMMONS
  • rally to protest discrimination and crimes against Asian and Pacific islanders during Stop Asian Hate rally on Boston Common in Boston PICS & RECAP: “STOP ASIAN HATE BOSTON” RALLY ON THE COMMON by KEIKO HIROMI
  • IF YOU’RE SURPRISED THE BPD CODDLED AN ACCUSED MOLESTER COP, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION by CHRIS FARAONE
  • A FAREWELL TRIBUTE (OF SORTS) TO MARTY WALSH by DIG STAFF

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 2.1 – March 2021

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG 23.05 – 4/8/21

Footer

digbos

digbos
“We’re not going to survive for 20 more years “We’re not going to survive for 20 more years if we don’t do this [move to a bigger space].” https://digboston.com/how-juliet-hit-a-100k-kickstarter-goal-in-4-days/ #restaurant #business #food #crowdfund #SomervilleMA #coronavirus #COVID19
EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR EDITORIAL: DIGBOSTON SEEKS CLIMATE IDEAS FOR MAYOR KIM JANEY. Environmental organizations and individual activists invited to submit opinion articles for publication. https://digboston.com/editorial-digboston-seeks-climate-ideas-for-mayor-kim-janey/ #politics @boston_mayor #environment #globalwarming #climate #activist #callforsubmissions #policy #Boston #Massachusetts
“Most are some of my favorite bars or local clas “Most are some of my favorite bars or local classics that I’ve learned to love in my time living in the city. Others just have a great facade that I know would make a great drawing.” https://digboston.com/drawn-but-not-forgotten-local-artist-sketches-beloved-boston-restaurants/ #art #artist #sketch #drawing #Boston #Massachusetts #bar #restaurant
Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors Despite #pandemic hurdles, Mass #music instructors hit new high notes. “My #teaching has gone to another level.” https://digboston.com/the-medium-is-the-maestro/ #education #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chron From the podcast to the book, Wayne Federman chronicles the business of joke-telling. https://digboston.com/the-history-of-stand-up-from-mark-twain-to-dave-chappelle/ #comedy #history #book #interview #Boston #Massachusetts
“I’m calling on some of you to drop by a local “I’m calling on some of you to drop by a local field office and hear what people have to say.” https://digboston.com/dear-reader-the-political-season-is-upon-us-embrace-it/ #politics #commentary #election #Massachusetts
“I think most people agree that we want our publ “I think most people agree that we want our public dollars to go to those companies that are not cutting corners.” https://digboston.com/bill-seeks-to-penalize-contractors-for-unsafe-conditions/ #politics #legislation #construction #safety #labor #Massachusetts
“It’s just shocking to me for Massachusetts, t “It’s just shocking to me for Massachusetts, the state that puts itself forward as this paragon of democracy. Those are just fundamental building blocks of a democratic society.” https://digboston.com/researchers-show-extent-of-lobbying-against-climate-bills-in-ma/ #environment #globalwarming #climate #crisis #politics #lobby #Massachusetts
I was lucky enough to get an extra #vaccine. Here’s how it went down. https://digboston.com/young-healthy-and-inoculated/ #young #youth #student #college #vaccination #publichealth #health #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
The MBTA confirmed that it will “fully fund its The MBTA confirmed that it will “fully fund its operating budget in the coming fiscal year and begin to restore cut service.” https://digboston.com/public-transit-public-good-responds-to-restoring-mbta-service/ #transportation #politics #Massachusetts
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]