Day 7. go on out.

​Day 7.  go on out.
Am I depressed? I don't really know. I read about a lot of conditions...depression being just one of them and I wonder.... Is that my problem? I don't know. It seems as though my life goes through these ebbs and flows of emotions and states and I always just thought it was "normal" as in, everyone has that.  Is anyone just content...as in comfortable and fulfilled and not anxious about what is around the corner? Is that why self-medication is so popular, because we're not? 
When I was a little girl I played outdoors a LOT.  It was what we did. I am from that generation (you've all heard it, Im sure) that was turned loose on bikes, roller skates, skateboards or our feet after breakfast on summer mornings, and returned home either for food or at dark. No worries. Weird to think about now, but not even a THING to think about then. (why? I wonder) So we had many, possibly dangerous adventures outside. In nature.  I believe this is what formed my love of the natural world. I still think being outdoors is a great thing. I wish everyone had the opportunity to freely explore fields and woods and streams as children.( Re-reading that makes me sound like such a 58 year old hippie...) but honestly, what feels better than fresh air or sunshine or water or breezes? People often say life was easier then...simpler. I don't necessarily agree that it was easier OR simpler, just different sets of problems. Weren't people depressed? Weren't they still unhappy and unsatisfied? I think they must have been. I remember as a teenager going to a beautiful wooded area just to be. Away from other people I hated that day. Was that a self-medication?  
Of course I did drugs  (ugggh more than I like to think about between ages 18-23ish) but I don't know exactly why I did them, other than my friends did them.  Could something as simple as being outdoors actually help people to feel good, to feel right ? 
I am aware of chemical imbalances (and I have no problem with people who have found relief with pharmaceutical remedy.) I just wonder about the simplicity of being in nature and how it makes you feel good.  I guess there's the issue of  "no free time" as well. I know people who will say 'I dont have any TIME to take a walk in nature...I've got this huge job/client/deadline and I'm tired as hell and my babies need me and my kid(spouse-animal-whatever) wants to eat and I dont even have a MINUTE to myself..." I don't know what to say to that but if we placed a high value on the self-medicating of a walk in the woods (on the beach-whatever) wouldn't we make a bit of time for that? I just think maybe being outside is more important than ever in this time where it seems unimportant. 
So. Am I depressed?? Eh, who knows.    x #500wordsaday