I think that children who love nature are often encouraged to move away from this as part of growing up, leading to teenagers who abandon the interest because they view it as childish. I wonder whether more teenagers would like nature if society treated that interest differently.
That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. One piece of evidence is how it’s taken for granted that young children have daily outdoor time in daycare, yet no one ‘forces’ teenagers to go outside. And it’s a big hurdle to be the first teen to spend time outside exploring when everyone else stays inside (with phones).
This is such an important concept. Thank you for offering it to the Substack community. My work is dedicated to helping people reconnect to their ancestral yearning to be with Nature, connected, rather than in Nature, which offers varying results. Your article resonates deeply within me!
Thank you for your warm comment! Nature connection is one of my interests, and I truly think a deeper connection with nature is a solution to many modern problems.
What a beautiful reflecting post Anna. I think we belong in Nature, but the modern world are trying to disatract us away from it. We can loose the connection to Nature yes, but as soon as we remember who we are, we are back on track. It`s always within us. We are born with the connection to Nature, the whole universe. I also love that you mention your urge to take care of insects when you where little. I was like that too, maybe not insects but squirrel`s I saved from time to time. And Tove Janssons book about Mummitrollet ( norwegian) I loved, and my son loved it too when he was little. Thank you for sharing this story.
I like how you put that we are born with the nature connection! That's so true. And drifting away from nature starts right away, with small things — until some of us reach the point where even walking barefoot feels like too much. I think it’s so sad.
So nice to hear that you’ve read Jansson’s book with your son too! I think all the Moomin books have so much to say for adults as well. Thanks! 💚
Such a good post! I really enjoyed the beginning where you talk about feeling one with nature. That oneness is such a special feeling and I think too many people have yet to experience it, or haven't experienced it since they were children. I also admired this line, "He finds inner peace and accepts nature as it is — and himself as he is."
I think that children who love nature are often encouraged to move away from this as part of growing up, leading to teenagers who abandon the interest because they view it as childish. I wonder whether more teenagers would like nature if society treated that interest differently.
That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. One piece of evidence is how it’s taken for granted that young children have daily outdoor time in daycare, yet no one ‘forces’ teenagers to go outside. And it’s a big hurdle to be the first teen to spend time outside exploring when everyone else stays inside (with phones).
This is such an important concept. Thank you for offering it to the Substack community. My work is dedicated to helping people reconnect to their ancestral yearning to be with Nature, connected, rather than in Nature, which offers varying results. Your article resonates deeply within me!
Thank you for your warm comment! Nature connection is one of my interests, and I truly think a deeper connection with nature is a solution to many modern problems.
What a beautiful reflecting post Anna. I think we belong in Nature, but the modern world are trying to disatract us away from it. We can loose the connection to Nature yes, but as soon as we remember who we are, we are back on track. It`s always within us. We are born with the connection to Nature, the whole universe. I also love that you mention your urge to take care of insects when you where little. I was like that too, maybe not insects but squirrel`s I saved from time to time. And Tove Janssons book about Mummitrollet ( norwegian) I loved, and my son loved it too when he was little. Thank you for sharing this story.
I like how you put that we are born with the nature connection! That's so true. And drifting away from nature starts right away, with small things — until some of us reach the point where even walking barefoot feels like too much. I think it’s so sad.
So nice to hear that you’ve read Jansson’s book with your son too! I think all the Moomin books have so much to say for adults as well. Thanks! 💚
Such a good post! I really enjoyed the beginning where you talk about feeling one with nature. That oneness is such a special feeling and I think too many people have yet to experience it, or haven't experienced it since they were children. I also admired this line, "He finds inner peace and accepts nature as it is — and himself as he is."
Thank you! Yes, that is very good line, and I relate to that. I’ve really felt that myself too.