"And the planet benefits from it"
"On a recent trip to Mexico City, I marveled at some small, speckled Inca doves, which are almost as common as pigeons in the United States. Nearby, grackles bathed their long, gorgeous blue-black tails in a fountain. Ever since I got the Merlin Bird ID app, my partner has become accustomed to my stopping midwalk, pausing the conversation, and holding up my phone to catch a bit of birdsong or do a step-by-step visual search. Ideally I add a new species to my “life list” in the process. Do my interruptions sometimes annoy my partner, and my friends and family? Probably. But are they learning about birds? Yes!
I have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and it’s much easier for me to pay attention when I’ve got something to do with my hands, eyes, or body. Moving around a little, watching the birds, taking note of which plants are in bloom—those extra stimuli are just what I need to tune in. When I sit still, it’s easy for me to lose focus. People with ADHD or who are on the autism spectrum—neurodivergent folks, in current parlance—often talk about living in a world that isn’t designed for us. We regularly experience being out of step with neurotypical workplaces, schools, and social settings, and we struggle to adapt or mask our differences.
The natural world, on the other hand, can be a balm and a refuge for the neurodivergent, providing spaces in which the constant, invisible work of fitting in and seeking accommodations is put on pause. Animals don’t care if you’re on time. Trees aren’t offended if you get excited about something and interrupt them. A meadow doesn’t get in your personal space unless you want it to. Those of us who are neurodivergent are prone to boredom and crave stimulation, so we can’t help but notice that flicker of feathers in a tree. Then we need to find out what kind of feathers they might be."
Chloe Martinez reports for Sierra magazine with illustrations by Linda Linko April 6, 2025.
Advertisement 
