Words Tabatha Golat, Editorial Director
Touch grass has become a popular phrase online, usually meant as an insult telling someone to step away from their computer and reconnect with reality. This April, with Earth Month in full swing, I’ve been thinking about the phrase differently. Taken at face value, it might actually be very good advice.
Living on the Saanich Peninsula means we are surrounded by some of nature’s finest work. Incredible beaches, rolling farmland, winding forest trails and rocky shorelines are never far away. One of my favourite spots is near Coles Bay in the Ardmore area, where the rhythm of waves against the rocks and the open stretch of sky seem to slow the world down.
Having a dog certainly helps ensure I get outside. Toby and I walk every day, often exploring new paths or revisiting familiar haunts. Along the way I find myself noticing the small details that are easy to miss when life gets busy, like birds hopping through the grass gathering twigs and soft bits for their nests. After Toby gets a brushing I sometimes leave small tufts of fur outside and feel a quiet delight when I see them carried away. Watching the birds work feels like witnessing a secret collaboration with nature. The air after a heavy rain smells earthy and fresh, and when sunlight breaks through the clouds it feels like the world gently announcing its presence again.
In many ways, this issue echoes that same invitation to reconnect with the natural world around us. On page 18, a look at Canada’s Nature Prescription explores how spending time outdoors is increasingly being recommended by healthcare providers as a way to support both physical and mental well-being. On page 79, a visit to Sandcut Beach captures the simple joy of letting a landscape shape the day.
Spending time outside may be one of the simplest of all the self-care habits. Sometimes the best thing we can do is step outside and touch grass.
These puppies may have already found a family, but there are many animals waiting for their forever homes at www.victoriahumanesociety.com.
Photo Janis Jean
