I feel like new condominiums are going up in Toronto everyday. It's crazy to look at the space of cleared land, and to think about how many floors will be in this building... how many condos, and therefore people, on each floor? ... People stacked on top of each other way up into the sky.
It may be one of the least expensive ways to own a living space in the city, but being so high up physically separates ourselves from the ground... from the earth! That's not to say that there aren't perks to living in the city this way, but the amount of concrete we surround ourselves with isn't natural. Again, that's not to say that living in a concrete city centre is terrible, but I find a lot of city-dwellers don't get the amount of exposure to nature as they would like.
What's the easiest way to get that balance back? Ground yourself. Literally. Get back to the earth, walk, barefoot if possible, through the grass. Visit a nearby park or conservation area. Put your hand on a tree; Hug it! Physically put yourself in touch with nature. Even now, in the middle of Canadian winter, you can enhance your mental well-being by getting outside (dressed appropriately, of course). Bundle up, and walk along a trail with a hot tea. Take the dog or the family with you if you want company.
It's like when you're on a boat or an airplane for long periods of time and you finally touch ground, step off and your feet hit the earth. It can make you feel grateful, steady, safe.
For those of us completely surrounded by concrete in our everyday lives, or living on the 20th floor, you'd be amazed at how liberating it can feel getting back to nature.
