129. How to live in nature while living in the city.
From the city to the countryside, nature always benefits us, the how-tos.
As you probably already know, I’ve been living in the countryside for two years. Before that I lived in the center of Barcelona and had a very stereotypical modern-city-girl life. If you’re new here, I’ll quickly catch you up.
Before moving to the countryside.
I moved to Barcelona because I’d been led to believe that the big cities were where all the big opportunities were. That’s where all the cool people lived and if you wanted to make it, that’s where you had to go. I’m happy I decided to follow that path and learn by my own experience that living in the city isn’t for me. My life there was all about work and earning money to pay for the (extremely) expensive city lifestyle. Rent prices were through the roof, a decent loaf of bread and a cup of coffee cost five euros, each. Add on the electricity, gas, internet, public transport prices and it becomes a costly month to month way of living. After ten months I packed up my boxes and moved to the countryside.
I was never much of a nature girl growing up. I was raised in the south of Spain by the beach so that’s the most nature I ever really got. Seeing the Mediterranean from the motorway, weekend walks on the sand with my family, long summer days at the beach with friends. It was something that was always just there. No matter where I looked, I would always see the big blob of blue at the end of the horizon. I didn’t think much more more of it.
I had little to no knowledge about birds, plants, flowers, trees or even how nature changes through each season. Where I lived we didn’t really have seasons. It was hot from March to October and even the rest of the months, which are supposed to be colder, were not especially cold. It didn’t rain much either, there are always drought problems so I was raised in a constant summer-spring with the odd coldish or rainy day, which was never welcome. The south of Spain is all a coastal area and the rest of the vegetation is quite dry and brown. You don’t often see dense green forests and the town I lived in was rural to an extent.
My big change happened when I left Barcelona to live in a tiny village in the north of Spain. I’d visited this village before because it’s where C’s family used to live so I’d seen the allotment, the mountains, the rivers, the snow and the forests before living there and to be honest, I expected it to feel the same as when we’d go for short visits but I was transformed. I didn’t expect to connect so deeply and have such an interest with growing our own fruits and vegetables, taking care of animals, foraging, forming part of a small community, canning the produce we’d grown in the allotment… It was one of the biggest eye opening experiences of my life. I will forever be grateful for having the opportunity to live there for a whole year.
I wrote more in depth about the Barcelona - Village experience in another essay so if you’re interested I’ll link it below at the end.
After living in the Spanish countryside, C and I moved to an even more remote place in France, which is where we currently are.
How did I get here?
I’m often told how lucky I am to be living in the countryside with this so-called slow life living and trust me, there's not a day that goes by that I don’t feel grateful for the life I lead. Every day I take the time to focus on this feeling of gratitude. Having said that, all of this didn’t fall from the sky. I had to go against everything to get where I am today.
When I told my close circle that I was dropping out of university in my last year because I hated life, was stressed, lost and sick; everyone told me that a degree would be the solution and that I should finish it. When I left behind my roots and entire life in the south of Spain, I felt my heart break. I had to trust my gut with my whole entire being, and so I did. Those hard to make past decisions are what have brought me to where I am today. I am blessed, but I also worked to get here. I trusted it all made sense when nobody else did.
When I was in Barcelona surrounded by money, possible opportunities, interesting people, cool businesses, social events and the life I dreamt of, I packed my boxes and turned my back on it all.
Countryside vs City life.
After two years living in the countryside, I can say with total certainty that this lifestyle is for me. It’s what makes me feel alive, whole and connected to the planet I live on. I feel grateful, happy, light, grounded, inspired and touched every single day. All I need to do to feel these deeply spiritual emotions is step outside the front door where I’m instantly greeted by birds singing, green grass growing, different flowers popping up all over the place, vast open skies, deer prancing through the field opposite, tree buds opening up to reveal incredible shapes and forms, bees hard at work, butterflies fluttering for nectar. But these things may not mean anything to someone who loves living in a city.
Many of my friends and family say they wish they could live like I do but in reality I know they’d hate it. It’s not for everyone and a lot of the time, it’s hard work. But different experiences and opinions are vital to be able to grow and learn more about life. Not everybody can or wants to live in the middle of a field, but there are ways that you can live a more wholesome relaxed life in a city. So how can you do that? What have I learned after living in both?
How to live a countryside inspired life in the city:
Observe.
I believe that all of us humans need to put an active effort into strengthening and maintaining our connection with nature because we receive so many positive benefits from it. I may be surrounded by fields but you can also do this by going to a park or the beach if you live on the coast. Take your shoes off and walk along the grass or sand, focus on the connection you’re making with the ground and realise how different it feels to the tarmac roads.
Connect.
Pay attention to the different flowers that are growing around you, gently touch them and take a moment to understand that those living beings have needed nothing but soil, water and sunlight to thrive and to bloom. Then, once their time is up, they’ll perish. Think of all the insects and other small animals that will interact with those flowers without you ever knowing. There’s so much we miss when we forget to slow down and observe.
Walk and engage.
Instead of getting an Uber or the metro everywhere, walk some of the way. But don’t do those rushed angry walks people in cities do with their headphones on, cancelling out the rest of the world. I’m referring more to a slow paced walk, with no rushing or headphones. Leave your house fifteen minutes earlier than usual, don’t rush, it’s not good for you. Say good morning to the shop owners you walk past every time you leave your house, smile at them and wish them a good day. Observe how your surroundings are forever changing. Enjoy your walk, take a moment to feel gratitude for your life (and legs) and realise that you’re living the life you wanted to lead.
Participate in your community.
Engage with your neighbours, I don’t know about you but before moving to the countryside I didn’t personally know any of my neighbours, we never really spoke. Community is vital for human beings. I’m not saying to have dinner with them or invite them for tea, but do become friendly. Ask them how they are, let them know that if they need anything they can always ask you, exchange phone numbers. All it takes is ten minutes a day and you’ll all benefit from having the feeling of community wherever you live.
Rest without spending money.
We tend to spend our free time making up for lost time and trying to be productive in other areas of our lives that we can’t be while working, but this isn’t always a need. You don’t have to spend money on a rest day, you can do other things than going to a coffee shop, buying books or clothes and going out for lunch. Try sitting at home and journaling your thoughts, play music full blast and dance around the house, take a long shower or a bath, go for a walk in a park, call a friend, make yourself a coffee or tea at home and drink it sat by the window. There are so many small things that really aren’t that small and can cause a big impact on your mood and day.
The way I see it.
When we cherish the small things that life has to offer, we’re able to live in a more simple and wholesome way, which is something that living in the countryside has taught me. Here, there are no coffee shops, no book shops, no clothes shops, no nothing so it’s much harder for me to fill the void with distractions and spending money. I’m forced to slow down (or go crazy).
When you think of your morning coffee as a ritual and a moment to slowly wake up and enjoy something you love, the coffee shop becomes secondary. When you try as hard as you can to stay in the present while showering, feeling grateful for the water you’re using, gently cleaning your body and forgetting about what you’re going to do at three o’clock this evening, it becomes an intimate moment of self love. When you’re able to sit still, listen to your thoughts, digest your feelings and feel at peace, you will regain connection with yourself and fall in love with your inner voice.
Nature is always abundant and it always gives without receiving. We don’t need to receive as much as we do on a daily basis but we can learn to give ourselves what we need and then give the overflow to the people around us, nurturing ourselves and our circle.
Link to my essay about City - Countryside life:
OTHER STUFF I WANT TO SHARE ↓
This piece by
is absolutely incredible. I have read it three times because it fills my heart and soul with free energy, as she calls it.The tenderness of emergence by
is another lovely ode to spring. The photos are absolutely beautiful and the reminders for emergence she shares are special and so tender.C, my countryside living buddy, has written a piece in Spanish about his screenprinting journey and it’s very special.
I really LOVE
newsletter and she’s now made one in Spanish and you better believe that I sent it to all of my Spanish friends saying “do not miss this”.- really got me with this one about botox and friends, also in Spanish too.
- , also in Spanish, shared her journey so far with taking antidepressants and I’m so proud of her.
The quote I shared in today’s essay was from
in her latest piece.
I loved this piece, and genuinely started thinking whether I already do these things in the city and if not, how I could start. 🫂❣️
this was truly inspiring, Em! 💓
I used to hate the idea of going on walks just for the sake of going on a walk. whenever my mum would suggest we go on a walk I'd be like “what’s the point? where not going anywhere”. at the end of 2022 I started going on long walks at night because I wanted to get enough steps in, I’d only go because of the goal.
overtime I began to want to go because of how walking made me feel. nowadays, I love my evening walks in the fields near by my house. I get to breathe in fresh air, wind down and look up at the sky and see the stars. they are many and they are beautiful.
and I’ve lately realised that it’s when I’m on my walks that I feel most human, most alive and most connected to both nature and myself.