out in nature
Finding your way back to nature by alika Middleton
In today’ s fast-paced, productivity-driven world, many of us find ourselves spending more time indoors than we’ d like. Between work, family responsibilities, social media, and the demands of everyday life, we can mistakenly push the natural world aside. We habitually foster this separation by not recognizing nature and all of her presence in our everyday life. From the coffee we grind in the morning, to the water we bathe in, the jeans we put on, the cherry we pluck from the stem, to the air we breathe, we are never separate from nature. We are nature and nature is us.
The benefit of deepening in and recognizing this profound relationship fosters an uplifting sense of interconnectedness, reminding us that humans are an integral part of the natural world. Tending to care for the earth and recognizing her gifts can help soothe the modern-day loneliness and isolation we might feel after a day of squinting at a screen and mindless scrolling. Nature is always a friend waiting for us to play.
By prioritizing time to engage with the natural world and noticing all of the ways we are so intimately woven together, we simultaneously connect to a deeper place within ourselves. Andy Goldsworthy, a land artist who makes ephemeral art in nature, powerfully states,“ Nature is not something separate from us. When we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ ve lost our connection to ourselves.”
This connection isn’ t just for personal well-being; it’ s also a way to become an active steward of the environment. The more time we spend in nature, the more likely we are to develop a sense of stewardship for the planet. Whether it’ s picking up litter during a walk, planting a tomato seed, or making sustainable choices in our everyday life, every action counts.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Potawatomi Nation member, scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass points out so clearly,“ Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”
Children understand this sacred bond from a very young age. They are puddle jumpers, worm catchers, mud pie makers, butterfly dancers and dandelion seed blowers! Adults can learn a lot from the ways children uphold their relationship with nature. This connection to the earth actively promotes environmental literacy and land stewardship as children grow. David Sobel, the educator responsible for developing the philoso-
28 plenty I summer growing 2025