There’s nothing more glorious than the wet, crisp summer aroma of freshly cut grass, the shimmering dancing of diamonds as light tickles ocean waves, the shrill sound of an eagle as it soars across a cloudless blue sky, or the hopeful possibility that subsists as you behold a majestic mountain vista while the wind playfully whips across your face.
Nature. Isn’t she grand?
Little could rival a mother’s love for her children. This love is epitomized by a thousand minuscule, seemingly inconsequential actions that flicker through time and brightly color each day. The careful laying out of school clothes, the doting precision involved in making the perfect PB&J, the snug security of reading just one more bedtime story before lights out at the end of a full day: These are the small acts love is made of.
Mother Nature nurtures us in equally doting ways, carefully cocooning us in her warm embrace and providing us with countless wonders, both big and small. The death-defying snow-capped heights of Denali, the thunderous roar that rips through the current of Niagara Falls, the implausible intricacy of a spider web resplendently shimmering with a fresh coat of early morning dew: These, too, are the small acts love is made of.
This being Earth Week, I cannot help but reflect on my profound love and deep appreciation for this planet we call home. Particularly as the weather begins to thaw, the birds begin to wake me with their morning songs, and the sun continues to linger just a little longer with each passing day, I can’t help but notice the miracles unfolding around me. Nature is at once preposterously grand and extraordinarily humbling; it builds humans up, elevating us to shocking unprecedented heights only to knock us down a peg, bringing us modestly back to Earth[1].
I have found nothing more curative than immersing myself deeply, wholly, and unabashedly into my environment. The more time I can spend in the sun, the farther I can cruise through the woods and trace figure eights around the lakes mounted atop my trusty steed[2], the longer I can leave my windows open to feel the pleasant breeze of a cool summer evening swirly in languid gusts around the perimeter of my room, the happier I am. Simply slowing my routine, taking a breath, and letting the fresh air flood my soul, is the most fulfilling form of therapy.
Pause. Listen. Fill your lungs with fresh air and take in the dazzling beauty of your surroundings. You won’t be sorry.
To celebrate my second favorite “mother[3],” I chose to list a few of my favorites from everything she has to offer.
Three things I love about Mother Nature:
1. National Parks: As conservationist John Muir famously mused, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” I whole-heartedly agree. But why stop there? Mountains, deserts, oceans, glaciers, volcanoes, slot canyons: I don’t discriminate! I love them all. My family has a bit of a thing for National Parks: We function almost like Ash Ketchum and his Pokémon gang with an intense “gotta catch em all” mentality that brings me deep satisfaction. Navigating “Wall Street’s” cavernous chasms in Zion’s Narrows, slicing through the icy waters of Glacier Bay, descending into the red bowels of the Grand Canyon: This is my happy place. And who says happiness need only be reserved for vacation? For two years I was spoiled enough to live in Tucson, Arizona with Saguaro National Park situated mere steps from my backyard. If that isn’t luxury, I don’t know what is. I was born and raised to deeply appreciate these beautiful protected treasures, and I hope we can enjoy them for generations to come.
2. Animals Galore: Not only do I appreciate Earth for her inspiring vistas, but I also harbor a deep love for animals. I couldn’t imagine a world without dogs, and nothing quite piques my curiosity like observing an animal interact with nature. From horses galloping across a grassy pasture to puppies picking up an errant stick and insisting it is a now crucial toy required to complete a walk, nothing quite makes me smile like seeing animals enjoy their surroundings. In this vein, we have a small body of water behind our apartment, and I cannot count the times I have exclaimed with pure delight from unexpectedly witnessing an animal outside my window[4]. Ducks, herons, muskrats, bald eagles, wild turkeys—I have been lucky enough to see them all. And, each time I encounter one of these creatures living—quite literally—in my backyard, I experience a powerful dose of perspective and reminder to be grounded in the present, even if for only a moment.
3. Patio Seating: Who doesn’t love to eat outside? Well, lots of people—I guess—but I am not one of those people. It doesn’t matter what transpires in the midst of the “daily grind:” Any day I can enjoy a delicious dinner or sip a refreshing beverage as the sun kisses my skin as I sit comfortably on an outdoor patio is, decidedly, a good day. Cam and I recently purchased string lights to dress up our little balcony, and we could not be more pleased with the result: Our own little taste of paradise. We are already plotting summer excursions to bike to as many craft breweries as possible so we can enjoy a nice, crisp pint on local patios throughout the cities.
While these elements of Nature are certainly worth celebrating, just simply loving your mother is not enough[5]. Rather, you must express this deep appreciation; you must show her you love her.
Three things I do to express my love for Mother Nature:
1. Imbibe Responsibly: If you don’t have a reusable water bottle, then it’s about time you got your act in gear: This is one bandwagon you don’t want to miss! These days it’s certainly not hard to find a liquid vessel that suits your stylistic preferences; in fact, there’s almost too much choice! How do you differentiate a Nalgene from a Yeti from a S’well from a Hydro Flask? When in doubt, go for the color! Three years ago I purchased[6] my first Hydro Flask, and it continues to make me (and the Earth) happy on a daily basis. Sleek container that keeps my ice frozen and water frigid? Yes please! Obnoxiously bright pink color you can spot a mile away? Instant love connection! On perhaps a less popularly acknowledged note, Hydro Flasks (or any other metal-based reusable water bottle for that matter) make surprisingly good weapons…if not the illusion of surprisingly good weapons. What do I mean by this? Funny you should ask! One afternoon a few years back I boarded the Chicago Transit Authority bus on my way from work to Union Station. I had my backpack on, my bus pass at the ready, and my Hydro Flask not so securely tucked into the side pocket of my pack. I paid my fare, started making my way to the next available seat, and all of a sudden a crashing crescendo of chaos filled the bus. A shrill CLINGGGGG!!!!! deadened my senses, and before I knew what was happening bus patrons hit the ground, hands huddled over their heads in terror, fearing the worse had transpired on their daily commute. The dust settled, we realized no one was visibly hurt, and slowly reality began to come into focus only to reveal….The racket was not gunfire at all, but rather the heinously deafening cacophony of my previously mentioned obnoxiously bright pink Hydro Flask coming into contact with the bus floor after gleefully escaping my backpack’s exterior pocket. Metal on metal: Who knew? Funny, right? Maybe not so much. But, hey, if I ever do need to defend myself in a pinch, I now know—with my Hydro Flask in hand—I have the greatest tool at my disposal: The element of surprise.
2. Haul Strategically: I am a notorious bag lady. I like my bags, and my bags like me. When I say bags, note that I’m not necessarily talking about designer duds and cute little purses[7]; rather, I’m talking about big, hulking, haul-everything-I-own-so-I-can-be-prepared-for-any-type-of-situation kind of bags. Indeed, I have been known to lug a backpack, lunch box, gym bag, and reusable tote filled with all sorts of arbitrary goodies[8] without blinking an eye. Despite me being an equal opportunity bag enthusiast, perhaps my deepest appreciation is reserved for the all-purpose reusable bag. I pack reusable bags in my car trunk so they are available anywhere I go. While groceries and errands are an obvious go-to, these little babies also come in handy for moving across states, corralling loose Christmas presents, and transporting plants you didn’t know you were going to buy until you are leaving the store and need a way to avoid dirt from getting all over your trunk. Amazing. And they do all this while saving the planet. Don’t say reusable bags never did nothin’ for ya!
3. Shop Sustainably: When I can, I like to shop locally and support companies that repurpose goods, seek renewable energy sources, and generally love the environment. I’m a big fan of companies like Patagonia and United by Blue that use recyclable materials and consciously seek to do right by the environment. In fact, United by Blue even recently came out with a line of responsibly sourced Earth Week-related wares intended to educate and raise awareness for everything our world has to offer. I particularly love this new pennant and may or may not have used it as the inspiration for this post…
United By Blue – Love Your Mother Pennant
It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that Jack Johnson is one of my favorite artists. Not only does his music “get me,” but I deeply appreciate his various efforts and numerous campaigns to raise awareness and support for Mother Earth. At one of his concerts a few summers back, Jack decorated the stage with lights made from plastic rescued from the ocean. He drew attention to this oddly beautiful yet hauntingly jarring lighting during one of his monologues, describing that his foundation intentionally removes inordinate amounts of trash from the water each year. In a similar vein, he required all beverages purchased at the concert to be dispensed in for-sale reusable cups, and all his concert swag was made from renewable, earth-friendly sources[9]. Thank you, Jack. You, your fans, and the world are truly “better when we’re [working] together.”
What could rival a mother’s love for her children? Not much. But, her children’s reciprocated, clearly demonstrated love for her in return is a great place to start.
Love your Mother Earth—let her shine from sea to shining “sea green”—and she will love you back with a beautiful ferocity you cannot imagine
Do good. Preserve. Happy Earth Week!
[1] Literally.
[2] (My bike.)
[3] My first favorite mother being, of course, Mother Willow from Disney’s Pocahontas. Naturally. Sorry, Mom, but can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? Can you paint with all the colors of the wind? …Didn’t think so.
[4] I’m pretty sure Cam thinks something is wrong in these frantic moments (we have an intruder, I dropped my hairdryer in the sink, etc.), but nope! Just animals in their natural habitat!
[5] After everything that woman does for you?! You darn well show her some GRATITUDE!
[6] Read: Invested in. Those little mamas are spendy! (But well worth it: Keep reading…)
[7] Although those can be nice, too!
[8] And rightfully so! Living in the Midwest, you never know if you’ll need an umbrella, hat, gloves, or extra pair of shoes. You could live through a single hour and need all the above. Don’t come crying to me the next time you get caught in a storm without the proper protection: You better bet this bag lady will be prepared!
[9] In fact, I just realized I am writing this post while cozily nestled in my Jack Johnson organic cotton sweatshirt. And it wasn’t even intentional… Will you look at that?
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