“I believe that natural beauty has a necessary place in the development of any individual or any society. I believe that whenever we destroy beauty, whenever we substitute something man-made and artificial for a natural feature of this earth, we have retarded some part of man’s spiritual growth.” —Rachel Carson
We have forgotten how vitally important nature is to us. The siren call of consumerism and information technology are two of the reasons nature is no longer valued. We are inundated day and night by advertising, urging us to buy, buy, buy. Our computers and cell phones keeps us mesmerized and glued to our screens, causing us to forget the great outdoors.
We have also forgotten–or maybe never realized– that each one of us is a steward of the Earth. Instead of caring for our only home, we destroy the Earth’s life-giving ecosystems and pollute the air, land and water with toxic chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics. This sad state of affairs can be reversed if we wake up and make our environment a priority.
We need to reconnect to nature for our own health and well-being. Do you remember what it’s like to be in nature? Have you forgotten how wonderful a gentle breeze on a warm day feels and how a beautiful sunset arouses a sense of awe? When was the last time you experienced the entrancement of a full moon in a starry sky, the peacefulness of kayaking on a quiet river, the delightful scent of herbs, and the ability of beautiful flowers to lift your spirits?
Our beautiful planet is awaiting your return. Don’t hesitate to step outside and reconnect.
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