I look up high into the tree tops, my senses
sparked by a repetitive hollow tapping. I wonder what it is. Perched there,
about midway up the pine’s solid trunk, is a Downy Woodpecker pecking its way
into and through the wood in search of what will be dinner. I watch her from
afar, feeling my face slowly curl into a smile. Tap tap tap….tap tap tap. What
a simple way to live. I wonder if I could live more so in that fashion.
I have been revisiting the same drainage pond for the past few months, and what I have observed is quite remarkable. This small pond, nestled in the back of an apartment complex not far from the campus of Salisbury University, is a hidden treasure to those who know where to look, or should I say, to those who choose to look. That’s something that brings me great concern, the lack of wonder people perceive of the natural world while living within the human one. There have been a few others who have wondered about this spot, wondered about what nature can offer them. I see remnants of their curiosity in the bushes- old, discarded beer cans dully shining against an evergreen blanket of pine needles, crumpled, decaying food packaging lining the water’s edge. A pile of charred bonfire logs sits quietly a few feet from the pond. I can almost envision the fire now which must have brought warmth and laughter to a group of friends seeking comfort under the canopy of trees surrounding the pond. There’s something about the remnants of past experiences other people have had near this pond that brings about a ghostly presence to it as it sits now.
The interweaving of what humans deem enjoyable, and what nature deems natural, intersect here at this place. But for the most part, humans seem to be missing a big piece of the puzzle, and come to visit for purposes that are far from attentive to nature’s creatures and processes. I see that people are desperately seeking to have nature in their lives, but aren’t sure how to befriend her. What I have seen here at this drainage pond behind this apartment complex is that people come outside to “do” something. They come to drink with their friends or have their lunch, and are looking for an open and free area to do so. Sadly they then discard their waste in the water, toss their trash into the bushes, and seem to disregard the shelter and comfort that the outdoors has given them, with no benefit to its self. The people who come here have displayed and expressed that they view nature as a one sided relationship, in that when coming here, to her, they show little respect to how they treat their environment, and still expect purity, fostering, and enjoyment in return. Littering doesn’t harm humans, and their only purpose in coming here to this pond is to partake in activities that only present benefits for them, a purpose. In fact, arguably we humans should try out at least from time to time not having a purpose at all in mind when choosing to step outside into nature. As we grow into adults, it is hard to imagine ourselves running, skipping, or jumping through leaves, or chasing each other around through trails in the woods. These activities involve no purpose, only to simply enjoy being outside and interacting with nature. We don’t go outside to “play” anymore; because we have other matters to tend to, other “humanly” matters for lack of a better term. But what exactly does it mean to play in nature? Playing is an enjoyable, purposeless, carefree act in which humans interact with their surrounding environment, improving their mental health overall. You don’t need to bring anything with you, or leave anything behind. With nature play, we humans can learn valuable lessons, encompassing ideas about simplicity of life, affirmation of existence, and an acknowledgment of relationships within one’s life. All you need to do is observe.
I have been revisiting the same drainage pond for the past few months, and what I have observed is quite remarkable. This small pond, nestled in the back of an apartment complex not far from the campus of Salisbury University, is a hidden treasure to those who know where to look, or should I say, to those who choose to look. That’s something that brings me great concern, the lack of wonder people perceive of the natural world while living within the human one. There have been a few others who have wondered about this spot, wondered about what nature can offer them. I see remnants of their curiosity in the bushes- old, discarded beer cans dully shining against an evergreen blanket of pine needles, crumpled, decaying food packaging lining the water’s edge. A pile of charred bonfire logs sits quietly a few feet from the pond. I can almost envision the fire now which must have brought warmth and laughter to a group of friends seeking comfort under the canopy of trees surrounding the pond. There’s something about the remnants of past experiences other people have had near this pond that brings about a ghostly presence to it as it sits now.
The interweaving of what humans deem enjoyable, and what nature deems natural, intersect here at this place. But for the most part, humans seem to be missing a big piece of the puzzle, and come to visit for purposes that are far from attentive to nature’s creatures and processes. I see that people are desperately seeking to have nature in their lives, but aren’t sure how to befriend her. What I have seen here at this drainage pond behind this apartment complex is that people come outside to “do” something. They come to drink with their friends or have their lunch, and are looking for an open and free area to do so. Sadly they then discard their waste in the water, toss their trash into the bushes, and seem to disregard the shelter and comfort that the outdoors has given them, with no benefit to its self. The people who come here have displayed and expressed that they view nature as a one sided relationship, in that when coming here, to her, they show little respect to how they treat their environment, and still expect purity, fostering, and enjoyment in return. Littering doesn’t harm humans, and their only purpose in coming here to this pond is to partake in activities that only present benefits for them, a purpose. In fact, arguably we humans should try out at least from time to time not having a purpose at all in mind when choosing to step outside into nature. As we grow into adults, it is hard to imagine ourselves running, skipping, or jumping through leaves, or chasing each other around through trails in the woods. These activities involve no purpose, only to simply enjoy being outside and interacting with nature. We don’t go outside to “play” anymore; because we have other matters to tend to, other “humanly” matters for lack of a better term. But what exactly does it mean to play in nature? Playing is an enjoyable, purposeless, carefree act in which humans interact with their surrounding environment, improving their mental health overall. You don’t need to bring anything with you, or leave anything behind. With nature play, we humans can learn valuable lessons, encompassing ideas about simplicity of life, affirmation of existence, and an acknowledgment of relationships within one’s life. All you need to do is observe.
It
may seem that “doing nothing” in nature is hard at first, but trust me when I
say that it is actually quite easy. When I say “do nothing”, I simply mean to
bring only your thoughts when you step outside. Nature offers an escape from
everyday life and is a free form of therapy for your mental health. Your
thoughts can be eased, your emotions can be calmed, and your stress levels can
be lifted away when you just let yourself “be” in nature. The type of “play” I
am talking about is a mental kind of playing, letting your thoughts interact
directly with what is living outside. There is nothing more reaffirming and
comforting than acknowledging that you too, are alive. We bog ourselves down
with countless responsibilities, all created by the human race, allowing stress
to eat away at our serenity, over matters that seem quite pointless. When you
step outside, you allow yourself to return to your roots and realize that your
life is worth living. The beauty of nature is the best kind of therapy there
is, because it is the many mysteries which occur within it that make you
question what is really important.
To envision our lives without a purpose is quite a difficult task, however, if you were to walk in the shoes of a robin, or a bald eagle, it’s much easier to imagine. Granted, birds don’t wear shoes, but the point here is that animals’ minds aren’t eaten away with the same responsibilities that humans plague themselves with every single day. We are always searching relentlessly for something to do, somewhere to be, or someone to please, and all of this searching becomes quite exhausting. As children, we are still blinded by innocence and are naïve to what the world has in store for us. That is why it is so easy for children to run outside with such cheerful grace accompanied by freedom filling up their hearts with happiness. Children and nature function under very similar characteristics. They embrace the pure rational reality of what nature is: a stress free, self-sustaining environment that doesn’t require any responsibility. I see the same kind of freedom carrying flocks of Canadian Geese south each winter, with icy cool wind propelling them forward beneath their wings calling for zero effort whatsoever. I see the same kind of curiosity in the squirrels scurrying across the forest floor, stopping to prop themselves up and stare at me in wonder. I see the same kind of carefree, relaxed demeanor the Bald Eagle has when coasting above the landscape in the setting sun in search of food.
Nature does not strive to accomplish anything other than humbly living; it makes its way through life with pure simplicity. Children prefer things uncomplicated, as does nature. So when I make the decision to drop my obligations, step outside, and let nature have its way with me, I am choosing to embrace my inner child. Playing is innocence without a purpose, and when I am exploring the wilderness, I am not looking to accomplish anything. I am merely there to feel and experience the little wonders that nature is waiting to reveal. Playing outside helps ignite a lost sense of wonder inside each one of us, a sense of wonder that gets lost among the mundane buzz of day to day duties.
Along with simplicity, nature has many more lessons to teach us about our life here on the planet, and that is affirmation of existence. No one can ever truly give an answer to the questions: Where do we come from? What is the reason for my life? Why does it seem so difficult at times? Some have found the answers through things like religion or maybe even science, but these are all based on speculation or biological evidence that provides solid facts. However, some things don’t need to have clear concrete answers, rather simply acknowledging the complexity is good enough. When I am sitting under the canopy of the loblolly pines, I am bewildered at how we are both alive. I don’t ask myself what is making this single tree live, because I could easily prove that with scientific data on the biological makeup of the tree, information about cellular respiration, or even go into detail about its root systems and its relationship with the soil, which would all suffice in answering that question. What I do instead, is simply accept that it is alive, and this offers me profound affirmation to my own life. I don’t need to know why I am living, where I come from, or understand the complexity of my existence, all I need to know is that I have life, and it is important as well as worth living- which provides clarity and comfort.
After spending time in nature, I am able to take home with me valuable lessons that I’ve learned, and am able to apply them to my own life. What does our life consist of? Well, among many things such as schedules and plans for the future, we base our whole existence around relationships with others. Human relationships help us grow as individuals, and we find comfort in relating to and trusting others. In fact, without healthy relationships, we tend to suffer from loneliness and question our purpose in life, feeling like we are alone inside our own heads. Don’t get me wrong, some people are easily able to survive without others, and would actually prefer it that way. For the most part though, it is through interactions with other like-minded beings that brings us happiness, fulfillment, support, and strength to survive this crazy ride we call life. When I come here to this drainage pond, I am able to reflect on this idea of relationships quite easily. I see a similar scenario of dependence among beings that live within this ecosystem. Flocks of Carolina Wrens and Chickadees stick together, offering each other strength in numbers from predators and combined effort in finding food to forage on. Mallard and Wood Ducks come together in unison to take on a long journey together when migrating south for the winter. Even the relationship between predator and prey is an important one; the Osprey depends upon the chipmunk to provide herself with nutrients to survive, and appreciates the chipmunk’s existence in return. Although I am heavily personifying all of these animal affairs and it is close to impossible to prove whether or not the Osprey yells out to the chipmunk, “Hey, thanks for the lunch!” as she swoops down and to execute him, I still would like to think that there is an unspoken appreciation between them. The interworking of ecosystems and the intricacies of the food web are all dependent upon one thing: relationships between beings. By observing the relationships found in nature, I find it easier to be thankful for the relationships I have in my own life. I understand that without them, I would struggle for survival.
Think about what children love most: to play and to laugh. Laughter is something in which eases all pain and discomfort in ourselves. It brings us back to our sanity and grounds us with a warming embrace. When someone you love is crying, what do you try to do for them? You try to make them laugh with your silliness, poke fun at how worse off it could be, and remind them to be thankful for the "little things" in life, the simplicity. Never lose that spark in which your inner child lives. We must learn to laugh and to play and love life light-heartedly, or else we won't get out alive. Laugh at the little things in life and keep it simple because they are what keep us sane.
The bare necessities that keep you happy in your life always seem to get drowned out by the things that make you unhappy. “Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves, that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim." Apply what nature has to teach you to your everyday life, and then return to her; tell her how it went. Affirming her life, in which reaffirms your own life is like looking into the mirror of reciprocation. Looking for the repetition, synchrocities and the reoccurring themes behind everything, including the people you meet and the relationships you make, is a playful way to carry out your days.
To envision our lives without a purpose is quite a difficult task, however, if you were to walk in the shoes of a robin, or a bald eagle, it’s much easier to imagine. Granted, birds don’t wear shoes, but the point here is that animals’ minds aren’t eaten away with the same responsibilities that humans plague themselves with every single day. We are always searching relentlessly for something to do, somewhere to be, or someone to please, and all of this searching becomes quite exhausting. As children, we are still blinded by innocence and are naïve to what the world has in store for us. That is why it is so easy for children to run outside with such cheerful grace accompanied by freedom filling up their hearts with happiness. Children and nature function under very similar characteristics. They embrace the pure rational reality of what nature is: a stress free, self-sustaining environment that doesn’t require any responsibility. I see the same kind of freedom carrying flocks of Canadian Geese south each winter, with icy cool wind propelling them forward beneath their wings calling for zero effort whatsoever. I see the same kind of curiosity in the squirrels scurrying across the forest floor, stopping to prop themselves up and stare at me in wonder. I see the same kind of carefree, relaxed demeanor the Bald Eagle has when coasting above the landscape in the setting sun in search of food.
Nature does not strive to accomplish anything other than humbly living; it makes its way through life with pure simplicity. Children prefer things uncomplicated, as does nature. So when I make the decision to drop my obligations, step outside, and let nature have its way with me, I am choosing to embrace my inner child. Playing is innocence without a purpose, and when I am exploring the wilderness, I am not looking to accomplish anything. I am merely there to feel and experience the little wonders that nature is waiting to reveal. Playing outside helps ignite a lost sense of wonder inside each one of us, a sense of wonder that gets lost among the mundane buzz of day to day duties.
Along with simplicity, nature has many more lessons to teach us about our life here on the planet, and that is affirmation of existence. No one can ever truly give an answer to the questions: Where do we come from? What is the reason for my life? Why does it seem so difficult at times? Some have found the answers through things like religion or maybe even science, but these are all based on speculation or biological evidence that provides solid facts. However, some things don’t need to have clear concrete answers, rather simply acknowledging the complexity is good enough. When I am sitting under the canopy of the loblolly pines, I am bewildered at how we are both alive. I don’t ask myself what is making this single tree live, because I could easily prove that with scientific data on the biological makeup of the tree, information about cellular respiration, or even go into detail about its root systems and its relationship with the soil, which would all suffice in answering that question. What I do instead, is simply accept that it is alive, and this offers me profound affirmation to my own life. I don’t need to know why I am living, where I come from, or understand the complexity of my existence, all I need to know is that I have life, and it is important as well as worth living- which provides clarity and comfort.
After spending time in nature, I am able to take home with me valuable lessons that I’ve learned, and am able to apply them to my own life. What does our life consist of? Well, among many things such as schedules and plans for the future, we base our whole existence around relationships with others. Human relationships help us grow as individuals, and we find comfort in relating to and trusting others. In fact, without healthy relationships, we tend to suffer from loneliness and question our purpose in life, feeling like we are alone inside our own heads. Don’t get me wrong, some people are easily able to survive without others, and would actually prefer it that way. For the most part though, it is through interactions with other like-minded beings that brings us happiness, fulfillment, support, and strength to survive this crazy ride we call life. When I come here to this drainage pond, I am able to reflect on this idea of relationships quite easily. I see a similar scenario of dependence among beings that live within this ecosystem. Flocks of Carolina Wrens and Chickadees stick together, offering each other strength in numbers from predators and combined effort in finding food to forage on. Mallard and Wood Ducks come together in unison to take on a long journey together when migrating south for the winter. Even the relationship between predator and prey is an important one; the Osprey depends upon the chipmunk to provide herself with nutrients to survive, and appreciates the chipmunk’s existence in return. Although I am heavily personifying all of these animal affairs and it is close to impossible to prove whether or not the Osprey yells out to the chipmunk, “Hey, thanks for the lunch!” as she swoops down and to execute him, I still would like to think that there is an unspoken appreciation between them. The interworking of ecosystems and the intricacies of the food web are all dependent upon one thing: relationships between beings. By observing the relationships found in nature, I find it easier to be thankful for the relationships I have in my own life. I understand that without them, I would struggle for survival.
Think about what children love most: to play and to laugh. Laughter is something in which eases all pain and discomfort in ourselves. It brings us back to our sanity and grounds us with a warming embrace. When someone you love is crying, what do you try to do for them? You try to make them laugh with your silliness, poke fun at how worse off it could be, and remind them to be thankful for the "little things" in life, the simplicity. Never lose that spark in which your inner child lives. We must learn to laugh and to play and love life light-heartedly, or else we won't get out alive. Laugh at the little things in life and keep it simple because they are what keep us sane.
The bare necessities that keep you happy in your life always seem to get drowned out by the things that make you unhappy. “Promise me you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves, that you forget, truly forget, how much you have always loved to swim." Apply what nature has to teach you to your everyday life, and then return to her; tell her how it went. Affirming her life, in which reaffirms your own life is like looking into the mirror of reciprocation. Looking for the repetition, synchrocities and the reoccurring themes behind everything, including the people you meet and the relationships you make, is a playful way to carry out your days.
Humans have made a reality in which
nature is deemed as that which only sustains our life, only used for our
good. It's not a secret, it's common sense. Nature is alive too, she just
doesn't "speak" back, but sure does have a lot to say. Humans need to
play in nature to survive, to get out there and observe the observable reality
in which we are all a part of: this planet. Making the decision to step outside
of our man made caves, which shields us like an armory from the outside world,
try going out there and seeing what the real
stuff is like. The wood in which your house was constructed was once alive;
probably once a home to another creature. The sheets you sleep in every night,
the clothes you wear on your back and the food sitting in your fridge have all
been derived from this Earth.
Playing
is supposed to be fun, and that's exactly what it is, because you learn
something new every single time. A never-ending list of questions swarm my mind
when I'm out exploring the wilderness. Which direction the pine needles will
fall onto my shoes is unpredictable, yet I anticipate the outcome. I wonder
where the flock of snow geese just flew in from....and how many arm flaps they
have taken. Are their arms tired? They must be tired....Does Indian corn always
grow the colors of red, orange, and yellow? They look like a sea of fire,
stretched out across the corn field. A good friend of mine and I decided to
play a game one day, the two simple rules being: I catch the grasshoppers and
she took the pictures. Catching the grasshoppers was quite an experience. It's
like they sensed me approaching them from the same exact distance each and
every time. You could not rush the approach, or force the attack, or else they
would fly away from your grasp in the blink of an eye. It is when you
approached the grasshopper softly, then did it let you hold it for a close up
and intriguing picture. Staring at the grasshopper up close and in detail, I
was looking at it (is it an it?) right in the eyes and couldn't help but wonder what it was thinking.
Stay
mindful, keen and attentive during every second that unfolds in your life,
because it's the interactions of chance that keeps it exciting and new; the
playful experiences drawn out by curiosity and wonder. Yes, research and facts
can give us answers, but they can also build a wall blocking out your intrigue,
to always keep searching for a deeper meaning. Simply simplify. "This tree
is a tree because it's a tree" is not quite the same as "this tree is
a tree because it's a living breathing plant whom shares a different kind of
existence in my good company." Search for the deeper meaning. There's
always an underlying reason for everything in life that hides just beneath the
surface, and that’s what playing can do, it can reveal these synchrocites,
reoccurrences, and hidden reasons to your life, just like a game of hide and go
seek. We hide from our biggest fears
and seek for refuge in each other,
yet if we just have a playful mindset on a regular basis, we can start to take
notice the games life seems to play with us. Have you ever wondered why irony
has hit you so hard before that it seems too odd to be just a coincidence? This
is life playing a joke on you, trying to shake you awake and make you look
around at your surroundings.
Nature
play allows us to see three primary and important things within out life, and
those are simplicity, affirmation of existence, and acknowledgement of
relationships. All three of these things
are absolute necessities to living a quality life. There is no purer place to be reminded of
these three elements, which is why spending time outside, “playing” is key to
not only our mental health, but our overall health. We as adults must understand this reality and
embrace it, or we will ultimately lose touch with our most pure origins and
root of creation.
- Carrie Zaloga
