When Nature Looks Back

Today I am sharing a column that will be published next month.

"When Nature Looks Back"

By

Rob Claudio

I often have experiences when in the outdoors I run into things that captivate my attention or sometimes what I am looking at makes such an impact, that it provides me with the opportunity to reflect more deeply.  A few days ago after sweeping up some fallen leaves in my patio, I walked back into my living room to take a break.  As I sat there looking outside, I noticed next to my hummingbird feeder that there was a colorful hummingbird with streaks of red and green, sitting on the hanging outdoor patio lights.  At first I thought it was going to be a few seconds before the colorful bird would quickly hover above and take off to other sights nearby, as this is their normal pattern.  However, after sitting there for several minutes I noticed that it would flip its little head back and forth and continued to just sit there and was looking back at me through the glass door.  I have been around these birds long enough to know that they usually zip in and out in a flash and rarely stop for any sustained period of time.  For me it was one of those moments that made me appreciate nature at its finest and then made me think even deeper, as I thought about how nature can take its moments to check in and look back at us.  I am personally in awe sometimes when I am out in the fresh air and run into majestic trees that seem to offer a step ladder towards the sky, or in other instances it can be the display of multiple flowers in a garden or on a path, that paint such beautiful scenery that you believe that it should be part of a portrait hanging in one of the world’s most prestigious galleries.  It is a great gift when one realizes how nature interacts with us if we become observant enough and open our eyes beyond what is immediately in our view.  Think about the times when you are at a beach and can feel the strength in the ocean waves that come crashing close to you.  In those instances, not only can you feel the force behind the endless water horizon in front of you, if you think a bit longer about all of the living creatures in the ocean that make this their home, you can appreciate even further why we must do our best in protecting such precious resources.  For another opportunity to experience nature looking back at you, you should take a whale watching trip or any other boat excursion that can bring you that much closer to the wonders that exist in our living waters that surround us.  Depending on your preference, whether it is water, desert or mountains high up above, there is plenty of beauty in our landscapes that can take your breath away.  Ultimately, we should never forget that we owe our future generations the same opportunity afforded to us as part of our existence while on this great earth.  Even if you think you may be doing something that can be perceived as insignificant to helping preserve our natural resources, do it anyway.  Whether it is recycling, the use of less chemicals with toxins in them or biodegradable materials, you can choose what your contribution can be.  Not only is it the right thing to do, it is our obligation as part of our future legacy.  The next time you are out and about on a clear sunny day or a crisp moonlit night, open your eyes, diminish the thoughts that may be roaming through your head and simply smile and take in the natural beauty that exists where you happen to be.  Appreciate that all of nature was created to make your life experience that much more meaningful and think about how you would want nature to be looking back at you with pride in knowing that you took time to care for it in return.   

 

“On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.”
-Jules Renard

The New You

There are plenty of commercials on any type of media these days that tell you how the New Year can be your catalyst to needed changes in your life.  From the traditional gym membership offerings to the need to start a new career that you have been longing for, it is all part of the package that is offered to everyone who aspires to make changes in 2016.  I saw a motivational message that stated that you have to let go of who you were, so that you can become who you will be.  Personally, I love all of these messages daily, not just once a year, because I am a firm believer that change can happen at any moment at any stage of your life.  Although there are more messages at this time of year that remind us of that, I think that since we are always transitioning into the newer version of us, as age and time on earth create that environment for us to realize that we can not stay the same for too long.  Also important to note is that if you change your attitude or perspective about how you proceed with aging, then it can be used to your advantage.  Many folks tend to resist change and when it comes to their personal look or appearance there is even more apprehension that surrounds any potential transition.  Since we are in a constant state of evolution, I believe that we should embrace each day with a welcoming perspective that it will bring us a new evolution that will ultimately be for our own good.  A key concept is to maintain acceptance with being okay with letting certain things go and although this may make you feel uncomfortable, acknowledging the feelings it brings is one thing, but not being defined by them is another.  Think about the many flowers that are in hibernation and are pending to bloom in the coming months.  The existing structure in a plant may look quite different between now and the coming months, yet there is going to be a change that will look brilliant and create a spectacular site.  We can certainly emulate some of that pending change by looking in the mirror and determining that this is the current version of ourselves, however, the newer and upgraded version is on its way.  Remember that change is best when it is done incrementally and that each day we can do something towards getting to that ultimate goal.  When 2017 rolls up on you in about twelve months from now, just think about the wonderful opportunity you will have in greeting it with the best and newest version of yourself.  In addition, acknowledge that the new you is in a constant state of transition and looking ahead you can define what that means to you, as you show the world the best version of  yourself in the years to come.