Why do I seek nature?

I went into the woods to find solace, silence, peace, to get away from the world that had suffocated me for so long. The forest, nature was a place I could feel one with myself. A place I could renew my soul, satisfy my lust for simplicity. So I traveled there, far into nature; my church, my place to find the creator of the earth.

Nature, the reliever of stress, better than any pill or yoga class. My retreat from the battle, known as life. A place to recuperate and find my strength before I plunge back into the chaotic battlefield. Why should every day be but a series of bombardments, with every explosion louder and more terrifying than the last? Why should we be witness to the screams of those who are hit with bullets, one after another? The constant firing, never ending, always coming, with only a few moments of rest between the heavy, overwhelming firing from the enemy. Every day, a struggle to survive, to make it alive, unwounded, unscathed from the unexpected bullet.

Advancements that were intended to improve our lives, ironically have only added to our stress. The simple rhythm of nature is being drowned out by society’s faster pace that does not respect anyone or anything. Radio, TV, email and phones, which were designed to open up the world and make our lives easier, have instead invaded our privacy and time. It is only in the woods, far from the battlefield of life, that we are able to recuperate and heal our tattered and worn out souls.

We seek nature’s healing embrace, its ability to calm even the most restless mind. And so I go into the woods, I walk among the plants and animals, relieved to be in place where time is no longer an issue.