Springtime has officially started for me. No, I am not talking about when the clocks change or when the calendar declares the first day of spring, which this year was on 20th March. For me, spring begins when my friends return from the South, having travelled somewhere between 6,000 and 8,000 miles just to spend the summer with us.
I am talking about the swallows, of course, who without fail arrive each year within the first week of April. We always make a point of ensuring that their nests inside our stables from previous years are intact and ready for their arrival.
It never fails to bring about an awe-inspiring moment when I see them again after the long winter, and I feel honoured that they choose our stables as their base for the summer. Contemplating how many miles they have travelled, the weather they must have endured, and the fact that they have even crossed the Sahara Desert, I feel mesmerised by how energetic they seem, flying around the yard at great speed and with an air of pure happiness. Their intelligence is, in my humble opinion, far surpassing that of us human beings.
Beginning my day by watching the swallows as soon as I step outside sets me up for the tasks ahead, bringing my mindset to a state of pure bliss from which I can operate at a calm and rational level.
Having said that, I do feel sorry for those who are oblivious to the arrival of the swallows, and even more so for those who do not know what they look like. If they were to look up from their smartphones for a moment, they might discover a world beyond the so-called virtual one, to which too many people nowadays give greater attention and importance than the real one. This is, in my opinion, one reason why poor mental health among the global population seems to be on the rise—to the point where it almost becomes “normal,” which is frightening.
I am utterly convinced that if we gave the natural world more attention—especially first thing in the morning—the potential for a better day ahead would naturally follow. It saddens me to witness this almost hypnotised, zombie-like state of the population, where even taking one’s eyes off a phone for a few minutes can prove challenging. If we began to condition ourselves to detach from the virtual world, and from the belief that we must be contactable at all times, we would already be on a healthier path towards reducing stress and improving mental well-being.
No one is so busy that a few minutes spent contemplating nature is impossible. Even in the middle of a big city, it is possible to engage with the natural world—perhaps by giving the sky and the clouds some attention, or simply feeling a fresh breeze against your face. Anything natural has the power to detach us from the virtual world, yet many people seem anxious about doing so. Why? Because everyone else is looking at their phones, and so, not wanting to appear different, they do the same—forgetting that what they see on their small screens has little to do with the real world. The real life to be lived and enjoyed.
I choose to use the word “wasted” sparingly; however, any life spent staring at small screens and existing almost exclusively on social media is, to me, a wasted life. And as long as this phenomenon continues, so too will the rise in poor mental health.
So, what are you waiting for? The swallows have already arrived.