Shower Thoughts: “The Grass is Greener”
The grass was set up to dry out.
Every job I have had in the past had that one boss who would blow off people jumping ship by saying, “Well, you know… the grass isn’t always greener somewhere else. It’s greener where you water it.” At the end of the day, as I would water my plants with nothing but a nozzle screwed onto the water hose, I would reflect on the colleagues lost and think, “It’s actually much more complicated than that.”
When you see grass, you see its current state, whether it be dry and yellow or luscious and green, but you do not see its roots or what its weathering. You do not see how your actions (or lack thereof) may have contributed to its drought. Essentially, you are limited on the context of its current state.
My neighbors with the greenest grass all share a few things in common. They never water their grass, they are always working, and they do not plant any trees. Somewhere down the line, they have concluded that to keep grass beautifully strong and uniform, all you need is to afford paying someone to lay down an irrigation system. It can even be automated, freeing up more time to work longer hours and come back to thick, full, green grass at the end of your shift at night. That way, when you decide to fight your (adult) stepson in your front yard, the one who likes to steal his neighbor’s DoorDash, you have a bit of a cushion on the ground.
I like watering my grass to the same degree that I like to clean, cook, do dishes, or wash my clothes — I would rather rot in bed and watch TV. But that is precisely why it is important. What I have learned is that spending time in nature plays a role in my overall health. In fact, The Medical University of Vienna published a study in 2025 that concluded spending as little as 20 minutes in the forest resulted in a significant reduction in cortisol levels. Yes, perspective matters, but perspective is much more complicated than your boss who contributes to your drought would have you believe.
This past year, working from home, I have spent most of my time inside my home with artificial light, artificial air, artificial co-workers, and artificial noise. At the end of the day, I choose to water my grass manually despite having the capability to pay for an irrigation system because it is about more than just making the grass full and green. It is about moving, socializing with my neighbors that walk by, and fighting with the water hose. It is about connecting with the earth, wind, and sun. It is about getting my hands and socks wet. It is about feeling the last bit of sun warm my face as it sets for the day. It is about checking in with myself and my home before processing my day as I inhale the air filtered by the tree I planted when I first moved in several years ago. It is about being serenaded by the birds and the cicadas as the warm summer breeze wraps around me.
It is about connecting with the earth, wind, and sun.
This sort of mindful meditation is an example of what has helped me successfully manage anxiety and depression. Leading a healthy life is about finding and creating balance in your surroundings while you inhabit this world, and that looks different for everybody. Gratitude is important, but if you ever need to jump ship, be prepared for the jump… and leave things a little better than you found them.
P.S. Did you know the “Bliss” photograph by Former National Geographic Photographer Charles O’Rear, or “the Windows XP wallpaper,” was a vineyard that was forcefully cleared due to an infestation?