Summary

Ann Leach has chosen "Outdoors" as her second Word of the Year, alongside "Kindness," to emphasize the importance of spending time outside for mental and physical health, as well as to promote environmental responsibility.

Abstract

Ann Leach's article introduces "Outdoors" as her second Word of the Year, complementing her first choice, "Kindness." She emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of outdoor activities for mental clarity and emotional well-being, noting that spending time outside helps her cope with stress, sadness, and depression. Additionally, she highlights the physical health benefits of being active in nature, such as walking and engaging in outdoor games, which contribute to her Vitamin D intake and overall physical health. Leach also points out the environmental advantages of her outdoor lifestyle, as it reduces her carbon footprint through the use of sustainable transportation methods like walking and cycling. She views "Outdoors" not just as a location but as a lifestyle that aligns with her commitment to kindness, creating a harmonious overlap between her two chosen words for the year.

Opinions

Ann Leach believes that spending time outdoors is essential for mental health, serving as a natural remedy for various psychological ailments.
She values the outdoors as a means of maintaining physical health, through activities such as walking and playing games

Word of the Year #2: Outdoors

Some years one Word of the Year isn’t enough.

My followers may be scratching their heads and thinking, “Wait, Ann. You published a Word of the Year article yesterday and the word is Kindness.” You’re right. I did and it is.

But this year, I am inspired to have two Words of the Year. There is space for them both with the second WotY being “Outdoors”.

Outdoors is where I, well my daughter and I, need to spend more time this year to improve our mental and physical health, and to walk lighter on the earth.

Mental Health

When I need a change of mindset, I go outdoors.

When I am in a slump, I go outdoors.

When I need to clear my mind, I go outdoors.

When I am stressed or sad or frustrated or even depressed, I go outdoors.

Going outdoors is the simplest and most accessible form of treatment I have found for what ails my mental health.

After spending time outdoors, I feel better, have better mental clarity, and have solved whatever problems have been hovering between my ears.

Physical Health

When I head outdoors, I rarely am sitting. Most of the time I am walking to a destination. Other times I am pulling weeds, playing a game, or simply strolling and chatting with a friend.

I am in the sun absorbing the rays and manufacturing Vitamin D. I’m like the sunflower following the sun across the sky to take in just enough sun to improve and sustain my physical health but not so much that my skin burns.

Being outdoors feels good both physically and mentally.

Walking Lighter on the Earth

My primary mode of transportation is my feet followed by public transportation and my bicycle.

I am literally walking lighter on the earth and reducing my carbon footprint by walking more.

My morning walk is a walk around the park (a 10-minute walk), around the block (a 20-minute walk), or around the big block (a 50-minute walk).

I walk to Woolies to buy food, to the Op Shops to see their offerings (although I rarely buy anything anymore), to the library, to the neighbourhood house, to the parks, and/or to the train station every day.

Walking my errands has become normal since I gave up owning a car last year. It is my lifestyle.

Having Two Words of the Year

Outdoors and Kindness are compatible and even overlap with each other. One is a mental state and awareness while the other is a location and lifestyle. Both are necessary going forward.

Today, one of my to-dos is to make posters, one for Kindness and the other for Outdoors, to hang in the kitchen as gentle reminders of our focus this year. Watch for the future article where I show off the posters.

Do you have a Word of the Year? Or an Intention? Or goal you are aiming for? Do tell!

Previous article: Word of the Year: Kindness

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