3 ways to appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature
Dear Mother Nature: How can I better appreciate your beauty?
The Earth is beautiful, and that beauty is personal, peaceful, and educational. William Wordsworth encourages us to explore Earth’s wisdom with his quote, “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” Nothing could ever measure up to the living art of the world. How can we even come close to admiring it the way it deserves? Here are some ideas.
1. Go on nature walks.
Walking is a great way to get your blood flowing and stay healthy. It is also a perfect opportunity to admire Mother Nature without distractions. Nature walks allow us to slow down and find rest from the draining tasks of everyday life. As I’m sure you can imagine, this has amazing benefits for our mental health, but it also helps us appreciate nature better. Of course, anyone can buy a gym membership and use a treadmill, but nature is free, and its sights are truly incomparable. If you’re nervous about getting bored, you can spice it up by getting guides that identify the flora and fauna you see along the way. For even more of a challenge, bring gloves and a trash bag to eliminate the litter that hinders the beauty and health of these spots.
2. Go camping.
Everyone deserves a nice getaway from time to time, but hotels can be expensive. A campsite is a much cheaper alternative with the bonus of a one-way ticket to unity with nature. Have you ever woken up to a brilliantly blue sky and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind? It doesn’t get better than that. When you go camping, you literally depend on nature for shelter during your stay. This puts into perspective how we often take Earth’s support for granted. Whether we think about it or not, our needs would not be met without nature. Camping puts us right back at the source of life’s necessities, and I think that is both humbling and eye-opening.
3. Participate online.
Okay, so maybe you aren’t an outdoorsy person. There’s nothing wrong with that! Thanks to technology, there are tons of ways to appreciate nature from afar. For example, you could join forums and groups that talk about birds, flowers, or any other organism you find particularly interesting. If that isn’t your thing, there are hundreds of videos that tour the most beautiful places on earth and document it in a vlog format. If you’re feeling extra curious, you could even find documentaries on pretty much any nature topic imaginable.
In summary, the methods with which you can admire the power of Mother Nature are as immeasurable as her beauty itself.
“Dear Mother Nature” is a monthly column written by Gabby Barber, a sustainable research and conservation specialist. For questions about sustainability and environmental stewardship you would like answered in “Dear Mother Nature,” please send it to gabhriel.barber@okstate.edu. For more tips about sustainability, visit sustainability.okstate.edu online or follow the Oklahoma State University Sustainability Office on all social media platforms @OSUGreen.