Ash Thoreau

Nature has always been my sanctuary. When I was younger, I made it a priority to immerse myself in it—whether hiking through trails or parking in a quiet spot to soak up the stillness. A few hours outside could lighten my heart and reset my mind.

But things changed after I became a parent. Those spontaneous trips stopped completely. The thought of venturing too far from safety with my child filled me with fear. One of my favorite spots, for instance, is home to rattlesnakes. The idea of something happening out there—away from help—felt unbearable.

So why am I sharing this? Today, as I edited a post for my Instagram account, @BlueJayCorner, I found myself unexpectedly tearing up. I replayed the reel over and over, caught in a wave of reflection. Before the jays and squirrels discovered my patio feeder, my mental health was in a fragile place. Anxiety gripped me daily—I was grinding my teeth, losing sleep, and feeling utterly overwhelmed.

Since then, I’ve made several changes to stabilize my mental health, but I can’t ignore the impact of something as simple as that squirrel feeder. Watching wildlife visit my patio has become a source of joy and excitement. Each time a new visitor tries out a feeder or waterer I’ve put out, I feel a small thrill.

What brought me to tears today was realizing I could have had this years ago. It wouldn’t have erased my anxiety or occasional depression—those are part of me. But the feeders could have been part of my life, too. Even when I couldn’t be out in nature, I could have been bringing nature to me. Watching those birds and squirrels could have been my way of reconnecting with the outdoors, even in life’s busiest or hardest moments.

So here’s my advice: if you need something to brighten your day, distract you from your worries, or simply pass the time, try setting up a bird feeder. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive—filling a simple bowl with birdseed will do. It may take time for the animals to find it, but once they do, you’ll have a front-row seat to a bit of magic. And the best part? No Wi-Fi required.