I made more time for evening relaxation this year because it was a tremendously taxing one. I’m talking about the kind of relaxation where you lounge without moving, don’t touch your phone, and give your full attention to something for the full duration. When I need that level of rest, my TV show of choice is Oregon Field Guide. It is the epitome of wonderfully crafted nature communication, and has been my favorite PBS show for about 15 years.

I first encountered Oregon Field Guide when my partner and I moved to Portland after college. We didn’t have much money, so over-the-air PBS via Oregon Public Broadcasting was very much welcomed. The station so clearly expressed a love for the region, a love for it’s people, a love for learning, and a love for good storytelling. It jived with me to an extent I didn’t anticipate. It felt like home, and made me feel at home so far from where I was born.

One of the first episodes I remember watching was on Portland’s neighborhood stairways. We happened to live in NW Portland at the time, so I decided to seek them out on my morning walks. Several of the staircases extended high up into the west hills, providing fantastic views of the city, and heaps of good exercise. The task of finding them gave me a sense of adventure.

I’ve browsed the Field Guide episode catalog a lot over the years, and in the process I’ve learned something about myself. Quite often, when I read the description for an episode there’s a segment I imagine I will skip. It may cover a topic I’m ignorant about, so I prejudge it as something that won’t pique or keep my interest. But the truth is, I never skip segments. The show always manages to fascinate. It makes me feel something about the region, the people, and the nature depicted. I want to be on-location, whether it’s scaling rocks on a waterfall looking for lamprey eels, or helping to pick up trash while riding in a four-wheel-drive junker through the mountains. It accomplishes this through fantastic pacing, imagery, camera work, sound design, audio engineering, and storytelling. I get completely drawn in.

When I’m emotionally, physically, and mentally tired, the show makes me feel restored. It boxes up my background stress, quiets my anxieties, and sets them aside for half an hour. It reminds me how much I love walks in the woods.

As I reflect, I marvel at how far-flung creatures, people, and nature can so profoundly benefit my own happiness. And most of all, I marvel at how powerful a sense of connectedness can be. Through learning, seeing, and experiencing, I have a greater understanding of the world around me, and a greater appreciation for being alive. For all of that, I’m extremely grateful.

Thank you, Oregon Field Guide.