Dawn Yow

It seems ironic, but the lockdown drove me outside. Without the usual rota of scheduled activities and places to visit, I turned to the outdoors for some respite from being inside all the time, as well as from the uncertainty and underlying stress of the lockdown. Despite being city folk, my kids and I were already making regular excursions into nature prior to the pandemic; the lockdown, however, intensified our immersion in the great outdoors. 

One of the surprises that emerged from these frequent jaunts was a newly acquired awareness of nature. Visiting the same parks a few times a week, week after week, the kids and I began to notice the cycle of flowers and fruit emerging over the spring and summer. This was not something I had been acutely aware of in past years, despite spending much time outside. I was intrigued and amazed by the ways the kids were observing and interacting with the changing flora. Early in lockdown, my oldest threw herself into botany, documenting her floral finds in watercolour. She excitedly regaled me with intricate details of her passion, and I found myself adopting her interest, spotting trees and plants that I would have otherwise ignored. More than a year into the pandemic, her interest has since shifted to ornithology, and like before with her enthusiasm for botany, I have inadvertently picked up her bird-watching tendencies, spotting red-tailed hawks and crows that had previously blended into the blur of daily life. 

The funny thing is I never used to care for being in nature. Growing up in Singapore and suburban Toronto, I was a loud and proud self-proclaimed city girl, adamant that I needed to be around museums, galleries, and other brick-and-mortar establishments. Nothing in a rural setting appealed to me and I was convinced I would never be able to survive out in the country. The few rustic experiences I had merely solidified my love for city life. 

I have since changed my tune and surprised myself by actually enjoying nature. While city life is generally preferable, I have learnt that being in the wilderness does wonders for my well-being. There is something very calming and rejuvenating about being surrounded by enormous, ancient trees, and slowing down to take in the natural world, which I had not realized before. This would be the one silver lining of the lockdown, and one that I am certain will continue beyond the pandemic.