Nature

Nature is the world around us, except for human-made phenomena. As humans are the only animal species that consciously, powerfully manipulates the environment, we think ourselves as exalted, as special. We acknowledge that in an objective view we are merely one of many organisms, and that we are not able to survive outside of our natural world of air, earth, water and life. But we end to be poor leaders in the "hierarchy" of animal life. Despite our greatness, too often we waste, we fight, we breed heedlessly, and are too self-centered and short-sighted. I take note of the increasing awareness of ecology, at least Western culture, and am heartened. We may still change our weapons of war into tools of peace, and our habits of despoliation into nurturing.


Earth is so large, that even if humans destroy ourselves, plus most other life forms, there will still be nature. The soil, oceans, atmosphere and weather would still interact with solar power to allow some life to exist. Earth cannot be a barren place like the moon. Humans can, then, reduce our planetary paradise into a hell of sorts, but cannot, I believe, destroy the planet itself.


This thought, sober and gloomy, is a modern one; in early ages it is unlikely hat people contemplated ourselves wiping-out most life on earth. I don't know why I brought it to the forefront of my nature essay. It does offer a perspective.


Nature's life forces, as well as its winds, eruptions, quakes, avalanches, freezes, etc., is immensely powerful. Even in this age of high-technology, where many people who live in cities and work full-time with computers see but little nature intimately-at least we all are still aware of the weather and the seasons. We all know that a short, rainy winter day is less pleasant or striking memories we associate with each season.


My awareness of nature was at this normal level until high school. I recall as a second year student, the nature was wholly unappealing to me. I like sports, music, sleeping and whatnot. Tress were trees, grass was grass, flowers were flowers and weeds were weeds. But by this time, I had been affected profoundly by nature awareness. I went from a normal world view to one wherein the value of being aware of and appreciative of nature was a centerpiece. In retrospect, this was he pivotal transformation of my life.



I began meditating under trees, listening to birds, tasting wild berries, and finding joy and excitement, meaning and inspiration. My self-confidence boomed, my sense of being as an individual blossomed. I began designing a custom meal from the menu of life.


The awareness of natural beauty was like a revelation. I looked at, and experienced, all manner of organisms, and light. Rainfall and windstorms became celebratory. The principles of life, previously mere broad abstractions to me, became plainly clear. I saw firsthand how environment and genetics, together affect life. I saw nature's pace-before I'd only considered humanity's.


From nature study, then, I developed my critical faculties, I gained practical information, derived inspiration and joy, and welded my personal world view. This is not an unmitigated plus. When one has an odd perspective, and so sees things n rare way, communicating with others of more traditional or conventional outlook can be difficult. For example, if I believed the soil is sacred, and yet the prevailing assumption is that it is dirt-we are worlds apart from compromise.


I would prefer that people based their philosophies more on nature study and reflection, rather than nearly wholly on what their parents or influential peers tell them. But he weight of tradition is on the side of relatively uncritical acceptance of whatever one's mainstream believes in.


I would go so far as to say humans have an instinctive need for nature, since we evolved under its influences. So to live, say, in a cave, with only artificial light, and only human-made objects, would be a sever strain. Along this line, the sterility of hospital rooms is frightful-I am glad about the emergence of "horticultural therapy" and the like.


One of my motives i sharing what I've learned from nature study is to help empower others. Even if a person doesn't find nature effective for inspiration or education, it is good to "strike it off the list of possibilities and go on to sample something else, such as religion, art, work, etc. Find your love and pursue it passionately.