….Biophilia

Do you know what this word means? I didn’t until I came across it in a book called The Geography of Bliss by David Weiner. This brilliant book is about the 10 happiest nations in the world and the secrets to their joy. It turns out that one of the the major factors to human happiness is the B-word.

To put it simply, biophilia is the fact that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve absolutely loved animals and being outside. My cat Jake was my partner in crime for years. After Jake, it was my sister’s dog Lenny and then our next dog Holly and now Monty, who my Dad looks after so well. Each animal that you own is special and has a unique personality. Our family pets brought us so much joy. Let’s be honest, they also brought moments of complete chaos! Between Jake following me to school, Lenny’s constant barking, Holly breaking her leg chasing cats and now on to Monty who refuses to step a foot out in the rain. However, I bet if you asked anyone in my family, they wouldn’t change a thing about our troop of animals over the years!

Pets bring me back to nature, the times walking them, or the memories of playing in the garden with them as a child are intertwined with happiness, smells of fresh grass, rain sheeting as you run home and cold cheeks in the fresh air. In my family home, our kitchen window looks out on a view of the Dublin mountains. They are a constantly changing colour palette of rich navy to green to grey with rolling white clouds that you feel you can touch. It’s only now that I live away that I realise how strong they are in my memories of growing up and what nature means to me. Rich yellow gorse still flashes across the Dublin mountains in summer, or they become scattered with a sprinkle of snow on their caps in winter. The mountains can make you feel miles from the city that twinkles away below.

The sea brings different memories. Tasting salty air during brisk walks in Spiddal, Galway as a young child, the feeling of coral and shells falling through my hands at the Coral Beach, to sitting on warm limestone rock, sheltering from the wind at the Burren in Clare.

So what do these memories and connections to nature, other people and animals mean? Research has found that patients in rooms that overlook a view with trees rather than brick recover quicker, workers who are in environments connected to nature and light take less sick days and people who jog in natural settings are calmer and less anxious. Engagement with nature also fosters a greater sense of community in us and our ability as humans to make lasting connections.

I find this really interesting and living in London, one of the busiest and hectic cites in the world, I’m still surrounded by nature. Just look at my walk at lunchtime today? It’s simply a matter of getting up from your desk or getting off your couch and getting outside. I felt great after my walk. I took in the little daffs that are blooming across St James’s Park, watched people feed squirrels and listened to ducks waddling around looking for food. My innate need to be close to nature won out again and it definitely did me good.

If you’re interested in reading a bit more, this article in the Guardian by Richard Louv has some more information.