How do I love mowing? Let me count the ways. I’m not just ripping off an Elizabeth Barrett Browning sonnet; I actually mean it. And if you don’t already enjoy it, I think you would if you understood all the benefits it has to offer.
There aren’t many things that sound better to me than the first pull of a mower’s cord turning into that steady hum. That hum is like a symphony to me, drowning out the cacophony of work calls, email notifications and office hustle.
Long before being elected county attorney, I discovered the mental, physical and emotional benefits of mowing back when I was a teenager. I’d mow my grandparents’ yard, which felt like a mountain, even if it was just a steep, sprawling hill.
No riding lawn mower, no self-propelled mower, just me, my push mower and my thoughts as I switchbacked across that 45-degree incline for hours every weekend. No music, no earbuds, just that rhythmic sound of the blades spinning.
Yes, I know this sounds unbelievable. And yes, this will be the story I tell my kids, just like my dad’s tale of how he had to walk barefoot to school in six feet of snow.
Even as a kid, mowing gave me a deeper appreciation for people like my dad and so many others who worked with their hands like him. My few hours working on the weekend paled in comparison to my dad’s pouring and finishing concrete under the relentless sun. The contrast stuck with me.
In a world that often celebrates digital and intellectual accomplishments, we tend to overlook those who keep the real world running, people like my dad. These are the people who roll up their sleeves, fix what’s broken, build what’s needed and tend to what machines still cannot.
They show up, do the job, and let the results speak for themselves. They are the true backbones of our nation.
At the same time, mowing offers a kind of refuge for those of us tied to phones and desks — and for me, a courtroom. It’s a chance to disconnect. Nobody can call you. Nobody can interrupt you. It’s just you and the yard. It’s meditative. The right balance of physical effort and mental space.
It’s not exhausting, but it’s enough to let your mind wander. That wander is where the magic happens, problems untangle and ideas connect, like the insights that come to you before falling asleep or while in the shower.
Physically, mowing gets your heart pumping and gives you a healthy dose of vitamin D. Science has also shown that just the smell of grass can boost your mood and reduce stress through a compound called cis-3-Hexenal.
Mowing provides a much-needed break from digital overload. It builds focus, calms your thoughts and gives you that immediate sense of accomplishment. Like checking off a to-do list, which fuels you to keep going. It gives you a small win — and who doesn’t need a win from time to time.
So who wouldn’t want to get outside and tame that wild mane of a lawn into a clean-cut buzz? Soak in the sun, stretch your legs, breathe the fresh air and escape for a while. Now if only this story convinces my wife to take a turn now and then.
Todd Thompson is the Leavenworth County attorney.
