In a world characterized by increasing climate volatility, the mental health challenges faced by farmers have never been more pressing. As we work to support our mental well-being, finding opportunities to practice gratitude and build inner strength are essential steps – not because we must be resilient in the face of everything, but because gratitude can offer us some much-needed relief amidst ongoing challenges.
Within the past decade alone, we have lived through several historic dry years including 2016, 2018 and 2020 and one of the wettest years on record in 2023. We have seen more frequent extreme rain events and damaging flooding like the floods of July 2023. We had a heavy June frost in 2018 and a polar vortex in February of 2023. We had an extremely active wildfire season in 2023 and one of the least active seasons in 2024. Destructive hurricanes Dorian in September 2019 and Fiona in September 2022 brought with them widespread damage. With all this volatility, there are plenty of reasons to feel vulnerable and scared for the future; wondering what the next season will bring.
This article is being written in late October 2024. We are just wrapping up a year that many across Nova Scotia’s agricultural industry have described as being one of the best in a long time. The season brought plentiful rainfall in most areas interspersed with periods of sunny, warm days. We had a long growing season with frost several weeks later than typical. Many commodities are reporting good yields, high quality, and favourable harvest conditions. We may be at a time where we can say, overall, it has not been a bad year. In fact, we might say it’s been a very good year for some. Let’s not let this fleeting moment get away from us without pausing to recognize this fact.
Practicing gratitude has been shown to significantly improve mental health by fostering a positive mindset and enhancing overall well-being. When individuals consciously acknowledge and appreciate the good things in their lives, it can shift their focus away from negative thoughts and stressors. This shift not only promotes feelings of happiness and contentment but also reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. By cultivating gratitude, people can strengthen their emotional resilience, improve relationships, and create a more optimistic outlook on life, contributing to a healthier and more fulfilling mental state.
Farmers are no strangers to resilience, but it’s important to remember that resilience doesn’t have to be constant or effortless. Our ancestors were wise and knew that saving during times of bounty, would fortify their families and communities and help build reserves to add resilience during the inevitable lean times to follow. This may be an appropriate metaphor for our mental health also. Instead of seeing resilience as something we must always have, we can view it as a resource to call on when needed. Recognizing when times are good, and exercising gratitude, can help us to fill our mental pantry, giving us a source of strength for when we need it most.
Let us be grateful for the good times – whether during a good year such as this one, or in the small, day-to-day wins – and capitalize on the mental boost exercising gratitude can offer us. In farming, as in life, we simply cannot “bounce back” from everything. Instead, if we consciously decide to be grateful in the face of all the catastrophes life sends our way, we can improve our own mental health and possibly that of others who may not be as fortunate as us. This way, we can build and sustain our inner resources for whatever lies ahead.
By Cory Roberts, Environmental Farm Plan Coordinator, NSFA
