I was especially thinking about this in the context of horror, but I feel it’s quite true across the board.

I took the graph from Kathy’s @thersaorg.bsky.social talk, well worth a watch on YouTube #RSAnature

www.youtube.com/live/k10KjvZ...

Even images of nature have a positive effect. One study found that in 90 seconds, viewers of a forest image became physiologically calmer than those seeing a city. So if you can’t always immerse yourself in nature, you can at least surround yourself with it - wallpaper, paintings, and so on.

It’s saddening that the response has been so positive because it feels like the game and studio’s “anti-woke” reputation is doing it favours. Even if influential reviewers (YouTubers) don’t explicitly praise the game for that reason, not saying anything about it at all feels like a nod of approval.

But let’s take a close-up of my nature writing shelf. There’s many more hidden around the house which, one day, I will actually organise on a shelf.

If only I wasn’t quite so shite at skiing, even virtually where my all too real deficiencies can be no excuse.

At least there can’t be any more surprises waiting for me… right?

37 and never have I felt this more painfully.

On a much more sensible level, what you say about “anything that allows us to feel in control provides psychological reassurance” reminds me of the power of routine and behavioural activation for people with health health issues. You can’t control the way you feel but you can control your actions.

Super interested after reading the review in Edge earlier this month. Good luck with it all!