Summary

The author reflects on a year dominated by screen time, expressing a deep yearning for the restorative and awe-inspiring experiences found in nature.

Abstract

The article "An Ode To Nature" is a personal reflection on the author's emotional shift from being consumed by urban life and excessive screen time to a profound longing for the tranquility and freedom of the natural world. Recalling a vivid camping trip from two years prior, the author contrasts the forgettable blur of Netflix series with the indelible memories of walking through forests and along coastlines, feeling an overwhelming sense of peace and insignificance under the stars. The piece emphasizes the desire to reconnect with nature not only for personal well-being but also to share these transformative moments with loved ones. The author acknowledges the lessons learned from nature, likening them to an inside joke shared with those who are attuned to its wisdom, and expresses a commitment to returning to nature's embrace, aspiring to one day live surrounded by its daily power.

Opinions

The author feels that the time spent watching Netflix series has been excessive and less memorable compared to experiences in nature.
There is a strong nostalgia for a past camping trip, which stands out as a highlight of freedom and connection with the environment.
The author values the perspective and peace gained from being in nature, considering urban problems to be trivial in comparison.
The desire to share moments of awe in nature with loved ones is seen as a deeply bonding experience.
The author believes that nature offers encounters and insights that are only available to those who are truly present and receptive.
Despite current constraints, there is an enduring hope and intention to live closer to nature in the future.

An Ode To Nature

A photo diary

Taking a moment to reflect on the year, I realised that it’s been a year of big screen time. I no longer really desire to watch yet another Netflix series, and that’s because I’ve watched so many this year.

It got me thinking, I know I have watched a lot this year, but which ones? They seem to have all blurred into one. Nothing too impressive I guess.

My mind turned, and I had a memory of two years ago. A weekend away camping. How vivid those memories are. Walking along the coast through the trees. Reaching the top of the path and being astonished by the openness. I still remember the exact moment, the feeling I got. I felt so free, so light.

In a year where I have been trapped in the city, I yearn for the feeling of losing myself walking through the trees, or of looking up at a myriad of stars knowing that all of my problems are so minuscule and unimportant.

Following the coast, being surrounded by the sound of the mighty ocean.

Not only that, I yearn to share it with my loved ones. To both look at each other and know that we are thinking the same thing. That we are all in awe.

I miss those encounters with nature that happen when are you are really connected with it. When the animals know that you aren’t a threat and walk, fly or hop right up to you.

Although I love the city life and the fun it brings with it, I feel my heart yearning for a break in nature. In nature, I feel myself and I feel at ease. I gain perspective and I learn so much.

I feel grateful for what it teaches me.

It almost feels like an inside joke — a little piece of wisdom given to those who listen.

Although I may not frequent in the depths of forests like I used to, I know that I will be back and that one day, I will have my piece of land and experience the power of nature every day.