How Living by the Seasons Drastically Improved My Life
In conservation groups, the term rewilding is a form of ecological restoration where the emphasis is on humans stepping back and leaving an area to nature to rebalance itself, as opposed to more involved forms of natural resource management. One of my favorite examples of rewilding is the story about the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park. Before the reintroduction, elk were over-grazing the vegetation which had a detrimental ripple effect throughout the entire ecosystem. The return of the wolves, the elk’s primary predator, set in motion a naturally occurring rebalancing process of the environment. Now, plants and trees have been allowed to recover and the entire ecosystem is healthier, more biodiverse and resilient.
We are nature too. Our bodies and the way we connect to the world around us is a complex and sensitive ecosystem just like Yellowstone. I like to adapt this concept of rewilding to my own life as a way of improving my health and happiness. I call it human rewilding, and I do this by turning to the natural world to reconnect to ways of living that are more in sync with the way us humans are designed to live - as creatures in nature.
Embarking on a journey of seasonal living has been one of the most nourishing and transformational experiences of my life. Although, it required experiencing an intense burnout and breakdown in order for me to realize how important living closer to nature was for my health and happiness. I worked seasonal jobs during college teaching yoga, waiting tables, and working at a local ski resort. After college I decided to get a “real” job and so I entered the corporate world and began an evergreen style career.
All things in nature undergo a process of birth, growth, decline, and death. And so too did my career in the corporate world. The beginning of my first job, or the birthing of my professional experience as an adult, triggered the death of any work-life-balance I had established at that time. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the life experience to recognize the signs of rapid decline. My new venture and the opportunity to climb the ranks disillusioned my outlook.
Despite the extreme pace, unrealistic expectations from leadership, extended hours, and toxic work culture I experienced, I learned and I grew. That environment sustained itself for years, through promotions, increased responsibilities and upgraded salaries. Every gardener knows that life can only be sustained when and where the right environmental conditions can be met. The environment that I existed in was everything but nourishing. Like a tree quenching it’s desperate thirst with salt water, I thought I was surviving. But in fact, I was slowly dying inside.
Late in my twenties I experienced burnout on every level. I found myself sick as a dog for the fourth time in three months, whispering to my husband between ragged gasps of air and tears: “I cannot do this any longer”. My body was rejecting my unnatural lifestyle and my conscious had finally caught up. I needed to slow down. I needed to feed myself - literally and soulfully. I needed nature to be more part of my daily life. I needed a sustainable environment where I could thrive. So I killed my corporate career in order to save myself. And thus began my journey of seasonal living - a journey back to my roots.
I don’t think everyone who might be unhappy in their careers should make a decision as risky or extreme as I did. Trust me, I’m still paying for that risk. However, I do think that anyone who is unhappy with their circumstances should either try to change it, or change the way they think about it. One of the most beautiful aspects of seasonal living is that it can be adapted into any lifestyle to create support, healing, and nourishment. Living closer to nature transcends social structure, religion, and all manner of other distinguishing factors because at the root of it - we are all nature. It is a single trait we all share. Seasonal living is simply weaving the healing aspects of nature into our daily lives. It’s about rekindling a way of life that is in tune with our natural human biology.
I don’t view seasonal living as working seasonal jobs, although it can certainly involve that style of occupation for some folks. I view seasonal living as developing a closer, more intimate relationship with nature in a way that rekindles our sense of oneness with the natural world. In essence seasonal living is just a term to describe the process of rewilding humans.
Gardening and foraging are hobbies that propel me outdoors and into landscapes in deeply intimate ways. Slowing down and learning how to waste less has also helped connect me to nature in more subtle but equally profound ways. Eating foods that are in season and discovering the changing rhythms of my needs each season has healed me physically and mentally. Overhauling the way I view the annual year has been one of the greatest ways I’ve invited nature into my life. Living by the six seasons has sent me on a path that allows me to explore the crossroads between nature and personal growth.
Since my journey of seasonal living began, the ecosystem of my life has re-established an equilibrium. I’ve been able to create an environment that allows me to thrive. I still work full time to make ends meet. I’ve simply discovered how to have less “ends” so that I have more time to enjoy what matters most in life. I’ve developed a dialogue with nature that connects me to the earth, the flora and fauna, and the cosmos in deeply meaningful ways. My instincts have been strengthened and my confidence has increased. I’ve established better physical and mental health through a cadence of work that upholds strong work-life balance boundaries. I’ve learned how to be more self-sufficient and less wasteful. I’ve connected to a diverse global community of folks that inspire one another and bring out the best in each other. Living by the seasons has helped rewild my body and soul. I firmly believe this lifestyle will continue to nourish and fortify me throughout all the seasons of my life.
How do you think seasonal living could improve your life?
