“Nature Deficit” is a term made common by Richard Louv when he chronicled the great loss for our children, in particular, who now tend to spend more time looking at screens and a lot less time soaking in the natural world.

We have documented, discussed and demonstrated this phenomenon in many, many ways since he brought it out in his book, “Last Child in the Woods.” But Nature Deficit affects adults just as much as children!

The flip side of “not enough nature” is “too much information.” I often feel overwhelmed by all that one is now expected to know or comprehend, because it is all at our fingertips — we can Google anything and get answers to any questions. But it seems to me that I always get way more information than I ever need, and way more answers than I ever had questions!

Many, many years ago, my brother, who was then a high school principal, said they were no longer teaching kids information at their school, but teaching them how to process and filter information. In other words, they didn’t teach the names of all the presidents, but how to learn all there is to know about any given president, and what to believe and what not to believe.

I would have liked to learn that! There are so many decisions to be made all the time — say, when deciding how to Live Green. And it would be so easy to have someone make all those decisions for us! Unfortunately, we are faced with doing the research and making decisions pretty much for ourselves, because each of us has a different life situation, different values, different resources. So any prescription for Living Green will be so limited — change to energy-efficient light bulbs, drive less, recycle, buy less, etc.

I once spent several days researching and purchasing a toaster, when we needed to replace ours. One can make every decision complicated when you start thinking about all the consequences for Earth, but it is a good thought process. I am working it again, as I get ready to make some office equipment purchases. Not only are there hundreds of features to consider when getting a computer or printer, there are all the Earth-friendly or unfriendly considerations, as well!

Andrew Weil, in a recent book “Spontaneous Happiness,”  expresses well something I think we know: “In my experience, the more people have, the less likely they are to be contented. Indeed, there is abundant evidence that depression is a ‘disease of affluence,’ a disorder of modern life in the industrialized world … In general, countries with lifestyles that are furthest removed from modern standards have the lowest rates of depression.”

Now, there are the exceptions to this philosophy, but my toaster experience is indicative of how having a conscience can take the fun out of buying “stuff.” So my plan for purchases that have to be made, decisions about lifestyle that crop up? Go outside instead! Improve on my nature deficit instead!

All decisions are easier when you take the decision making to the beach, to a pond, talk to the ducks or crabs. It’s a good perspective.

Stillwaters is starting a new Sustainability Discussion Group in fall. If you are interested, call (360) 297-1226.