This article deserves to have this one linked to it:
And now, for a personal comment. When the reality of coronavirus hit me here in Japan on Friday Feburary 28 when all of my classes were canceled for the rest of March (and my career as a public school teacher), I had two intuitions which I’ve learned NOT to ignore: Fresh air and sunlight.
Now, this is not a hard ask of me personally, as I cycle over 30 kilometers per day and spend most of my free time Outdoors. In addition, as long as it is not too cold or too hot, I leave my windows open all the time and don’t use heaters or air conditioners.
I started doing this in earnest last spring, but began to do it more regularly in 2016.
And I haven’t been sick since and feel my body’s strength is probably better than it has ever been in my 47 years.
I bring this all up to support the science of the articles above, and to also suggest that our Culture’s disconnection from Nature is at the heart of so many of our illnesses. There are plenty of others out there who make the same case — people like Richard Louv and Charle Eisenstein.
Last, I bring it up because one of my fears right now is that most people are so habituated to not going outside that if the government tells them they must stay indoors to stop this, they won’t see it as a problem for their lives … or their health.
So while you can, if you live somewhere that avails you the opportunity to get outside into fresh air and sunlight — and stay away from crowds — do it. See how it works for you. See how you feel.
Nature is not our enemy. Not at all. It’s a Cultural choice we’ve made to declare War upon it, and it’s a choice that is making us less healthy.
