"We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection with nature, we've lost our connection to ourselves," according to environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy.
In modern life, this reconnection with nature and therefore ourselves is often hindered by advancing distractions. The first problem is actually stepping foot outdoors. Play in nature and play in general has decreased through the generations. Even when in the midst of extraordinary beauty, some of us glance down at our phones.
Or if we are paying attention to nature, we are hidden behind a camera with the desire to capture everything. And this desire is beautiful, don't get me wrong. I love the creativity, but sometimes it blocks our appreciation of the moment. We forget where we are. We forget to take a moment to stop, look, breathe, and create -- a method coined by Wendy Ann Greenhalgh in the art of mindfulness.
In a fast paced world, our minds tend to be scattered. Always moving forward. In nature's beauty, our immediate thought is "God, I have to come here again." Sometimes I think we forget that we are currently here. Of course we would like to return, but why is that the thought before appreciating the present? We're not in the moment. A wandering mind was found to be a significant contributor to unhappiness through psychologist Matthew Killingsworth's app that tracked happiness throughout the day. Perhaps through reinvesting ourselves in the present, both happiness and admiration capabilities will deepen.
To be mindful of one's environment is to find true reconnection. Respect and appreciation for your surroundings is very important when attempting to rekindle. Summer brings a wealth of opportunities for reunion through recreation. Consequently, the opportunity for waste follows. If you love nature, come, appreciate her, then when you leave, take care to restore her original state.
This brings us to the subject of ecotourism, which, according to the International Ecotourism Society, is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education." The movement Leave No Trace stands to preserve these standards. The multi-day festival Burning Man is actually the largest Leave No Trace event in the world. They are able to have a lot of fun in the desert without leaving MOOP -- matter out of place. A zero waste attendee, Bea Johnson, even learned of the waste she hadn't considered such as hairs and feathers that could affect the playa.
Whether you pay attention to details this intricate, our choices do impact the environment. The majority of our contribution as humans has been negative. Let's work to change that in each sector of our lives, especially when the intent is to spend time in nature. We need to erase the contradiction and start being environmentally aware.
