We are all born, live, then die. Nature does the same... funny how we don't generally think of our selves as PART of nature. We always say "I feel like I need to connect with nature" as if we are totally separate. I think we all need to STAY connected always. Nature rebuilds us, makes us feel free and alive. But that's not really what I set out to write about.
Nature stands as a witness to everything we say and do and has since the dawn of time. It has observed the birth of this world as we know it. It has seen species born, live and die. It has stood by and held us through countless wars, genocides and horrors; never judging. It has provided sustenance and given us the ability to become more resilient. Most importantly, it has been our teacher. No matter how horrible an event, nature finds a way to be reborn. A forest fire may obliterate thousands of acres of trees, plant life and animals and yet years later, you return to that forest and see new growth. Some experts have said that these fires actually help the forests foster new and thicker growth. Even nature knows that in order to stand taller and more fulfilled we need to experience some unpleasantness. You cannot know joy without having experienced sadness, health without having been sick or in pain.
Sometimes it seems we also forget just how small we truly are... We believe that our daily, singular problems are the most important, are the most painful; and to us, they are. However, nature seems to feel it necessary to give us a good shake every once in a while to show us what real trouble, heartache and pain is... tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes. From this nature has taught us another important lesson, one of coming together as both local and global communities, by showing us our own fragile humanity... proving how important it is for us to embrace our loved ones and sometimes, more difficult, those we've never met or might find it hard to embrace.
And nature isn't done teaching. The most important part of the curriculum... SLOW DOWN! Yes, we may be hurtling through space at some ridiculous speed but we don't need to match that in our daily lives. Just look at how much we as a species change, and how quickly... nature stands as a witness; trees that only bend but don't break, standing guard solemnly in their place, watching over us. They grow to great heights but it seems almost unnoticeable... until you stop moving long enough... to look, to see, to listen, to feel. Most importantly to feel... this leads to growth... spiritually, emotionally, mentally. Yes, we learn in schools every day, we read and hear and absorb all the noise around us, all the "stuff".
Do we truly know ourselves, each other, and happiness? Nature knows... will you listen?
Nature stands as a witness to everything we say and do and has since the dawn of time. It has observed the birth of this world as we know it. It has seen species born, live and die. It has stood by and held us through countless wars, genocides and horrors; never judging. It has provided sustenance and given us the ability to become more resilient. Most importantly, it has been our teacher. No matter how horrible an event, nature finds a way to be reborn. A forest fire may obliterate thousands of acres of trees, plant life and animals and yet years later, you return to that forest and see new growth. Some experts have said that these fires actually help the forests foster new and thicker growth. Even nature knows that in order to stand taller and more fulfilled we need to experience some unpleasantness. You cannot know joy without having experienced sadness, health without having been sick or in pain.
Sometimes it seems we also forget just how small we truly are... We believe that our daily, singular problems are the most important, are the most painful; and to us, they are. However, nature seems to feel it necessary to give us a good shake every once in a while to show us what real trouble, heartache and pain is... tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes. From this nature has taught us another important lesson, one of coming together as both local and global communities, by showing us our own fragile humanity... proving how important it is for us to embrace our loved ones and sometimes, more difficult, those we've never met or might find it hard to embrace.
And nature isn't done teaching. The most important part of the curriculum... SLOW DOWN! Yes, we may be hurtling through space at some ridiculous speed but we don't need to match that in our daily lives. Just look at how much we as a species change, and how quickly... nature stands as a witness; trees that only bend but don't break, standing guard solemnly in their place, watching over us. They grow to great heights but it seems almost unnoticeable... until you stop moving long enough... to look, to see, to listen, to feel. Most importantly to feel... this leads to growth... spiritually, emotionally, mentally. Yes, we learn in schools every day, we read and hear and absorb all the noise around us, all the "stuff".
Do we truly know ourselves, each other, and happiness? Nature knows... will you listen?