By Ali Berman
Sometimes it takes a stranger to point out something that you realize you already knew. This was true for the voice of countless nature programs including ‘Planet Earth’ David Attenborough when he started receiving letters from the public telling him that watching his shows on nature helped them cope with grief.
Attenborough, now 85 years old, lost his wife in 1997. He notes that he enjoys being alone with nature, but not alone in his own house.
The conservationist said, “In moments of grief – deep grief – the only consolation you can find is in the natural world. People write to me and tell me this. People of great distinction (I won’t name names) have written and said, ‘When so-and-so died, the only thing that made life tolerable was to watch programmes on plants and animals.’ And I thought, ‘That’s true for me, yes.’ Because we are part of it and part of a big, enduring thing.”
There is something magical that happens when a person is alone with nature. There is even statistical data to prove it. Dozens of studies have shown that green spaces improve physical health, mental health and reduce criminal activity. For those of us stuck in cities much of the time, Attenborough’s programming gives us a much needed break into the natural world.
Article courtesy of ecorazzi.com