These are uncertain, scary times. The state of Ohio has officially shut down all gatherings of more than 100 people, along with bars, clubs and restaurants (although the latter are allowed to stay open for carryout and delivery — please patronize them if you can). Museums have shut their doors, and virtually every concert, play and other event has been wiped from the calendar, many cancelled completely, others postponed. No one knows how long this will be in effect, or what the fallout will be once they’re allowed to reopen.
Everyone has been advised to practice “social distancing” — to stay away from others, avoid handshakes and hugging, and not go in rooms where they’ll be closer than six feet to others. Does this mean you have to stay hunkered down at home with nothing to do until you go crazy with cabin fever, or the kids are screaming, “I’m bored!”?
Not at all. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of all the outdoor attractions and spaces northeast Ohio has to offer. Being outside is good for you, researchers have found: it can elevate your mood, relieve stress and maybe even improve your concentration and memory. You’ll be getting exercise instead of sitting on your butt watching movies or at your computer screen worrying about what’s going to happen next or what the president will say to contradict what he said yesterday. Plus there’s a lot of beauty all around us.
The weather has handed us an unexpected bonus. There are moderate temperatures in the forecast, and we’ve had a very mild winter — which means blossom season, which can happen anywhere from late March to early May, is going to be early this year. Already buds are on the trees and perhaps by the time you read this, they’ll be bursting open. The photo above was taken on March 21, 2012 — that’s this week! Each day, more and more buds, blossoms, bulbs and other signs of new life will be appearing. Go out and monitor them and watch spring unfold in real time.
So take a walk or a hike, or a run, if you’re ambitious, and do so in one of the area’s beautiful spaces such as the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, Mentor Headlands State Park, Holden Arboretum or the Cleveland Metroparks. We’re going to share one for each day of the week. Best of all, they’re all free — even Holden, which normally has an admission fee. So once you’ve figured out where to store that three-year supply of toilet paper you just bought, get outside and get moving!