Embracing Nature’s Reality

My call to focus on nature’s needs came in the PNW

For more than two decades, I thrived in the urban jungle of New York City, immersed in the world of corporate consulting. But one day, during the pandemic, I decided it was time for a radical change. I traded the concrete canyons for the majestic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest (PNW). This change marks the beginning of an exhilarating adventure that transformed not only my surroundings but also my very essence.

My passion for nature was already deeply rooted before I made the move to the PNW. If you’ve read any of my previous works, you know my love for the ocean, ocean-friendly practices, minimalism, and low-impact living have long been my guiding principles.

Relocating to the PNW opened my eyes to a new dimension of living IN nature, not merely appreciating it from a distance. It was an awakening to the beauty and fragility of nature and an irresistible call to protect and celebrate the environment that had become my newfound playground.

Perhaps it was because here, I became a spectator to the most fantastic wildlife performances. Orcas, the ocean’s nurturing rulers, dance through the waters. Eagles display their aerial acrobatics with unwavering grace, while the herons hunt with the precision of skilled snipers. Coyotes serenade the moonlight, and owls ghost the night with silent wings. Each of these creatures is a unique character in the grand narrative of the PNW.

My passion for photography found renewed vigor here, capturing these moments of raw beauty and wildlife in their natural habitats. Every click of the camera shutter is a joyful celebration of life, a testament to the intricate balance of the ecosystem I now call home.

But amidst the breathtaking beauty of the PNW, I also encountered the stark realities of our impact on the environment. Plastic pollution on the side of rivers and beaches, habitat degradation, and the specter of climate change loomed large. These challenges are not just concepts; they’re palpable, and they hit a chord deep within me.

Facing these realities came as a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s one thing to read about these issues, but standing on the shores of the PNW, learning more about the wonders this area offers us, I feel a profound responsibility for the world I embraced. The struggle to reconcile the beauty and devastation, the joy and sorrow, is a journey of introspection and growth.

The memory of Tahlequa’s unwavering effort to communicate her family’s human-induced struggles with us for 17 consecutive days leaves me breathless. The realization that these magnificent and gentle giants, who pose no harm, teeter on the brink of extinction due to our practices not only shatters my heart but also challenges my faith in humanity’s core values.

She spent those 17 days in the waters I now get to see and walk next to every day. I don’t know if you’d have the same experience, but this thought touches something deep inside my soul.

The anger I felt, and still feel at times, wasn’t coming across as inspirational or a call for action. It was inducing more fear and pushing people away rather than moving them to action, they were being paralyzed, needing time to digest and recover. And I know time is something we no longer have.

To continue sharing my knowledge more meaningfully, I had to embark on a quest to reconnect with myself and find my own strength. It wasn’t just about gathering information; it was about tapping into a wellspring of inner wisdom, a source of resilience that would fuel my mission to make a positive difference.

Optimism is my guiding star in this wild adventure. It’s the belief that even in the face of challenges, we can find solutions, that our individual actions can ripple into collective change, and that by uniting in purpose, we can create a brighter future for the PNW and everything else we work to improve.

Our challenge is to awaken the care inside of our fellow humans. It’s not as easy as convincing them of data and tactics. Witnessing what we see today hardly requires data to prove that the orcas, nature, and many other creatures are suffering. The conversation is about care and connection. Connecting ourselves to nature, to these wild, gentle giants, is our missing piece.

Every living creature, from the salmon to the eagle, from the coyote to the orca, shares the profound journey of facing real-life challenges and navigating emotional struggles. Each is intrinsically tied to a purpose greater than themselves, an integral thread in the grand fabric of existence. They forge familial bonds, revel in moments of joy, and grapple with the depths of sorrow, just as we do.

And just like us, none of them exist in their own bubble. Echo-chambers don’t exist for them, they’re constantly surrounded by their predators, prey, and other creatures navigating the same scenery. The orca will often pass by seals and sea lions — arguably their favorite cuisine — if they aren’t hungry. If they are, they will take one, often the weakest, slowest one, and leave the others at peace.

The coyote regularly walks by the chicken coop without looking twice. She knows they are there if she needs an easy meal, but the coyote doesn’t make the chicken coop her only, or even her main, choice of food. She feeds on what she finds. Leaving others at peace. Evidently, crows and ravens are a different story, but that is another story.

In my experience, I’ve never sensed hate from one species to another. They seem to remember their guiding principles — do no harm — and their sense of balance well. Even though the orca fights for the same salmon as the seals and sea lions, I don’t believe they campaign for their eradication from the waters. The orca is a prime example to draw parallels. They are constantly harmed by humans, many times directly— and they have yet to harm a single human in the wild.

My aspiration is to capture and convey these profound parallels and connections through my writing, my photography, and the way I live my life. It’s a different way of writing, crafting, and communicating, and it’s new for me. I hope you bear with me as I falter through words, expressions, and style in this time of growth.

As I continue to document the wild wonders of nature in the PNW and beyond through my lens and advocate for sustainable living, I embrace the joy of this journey. It’s not easy, but it’s exhilarating.

I invite others and you, Dear Reader, to join me in this thrilling exploration, to reconnect with our wilderness, and to find our spiritual strength amidst the beauty and challenges of our times.

Together, we must unite to write a new chapter, one illuminated by the radiant colors of optimism, exploration, and collaboration. In this chapter, our shared commitment to safeguarding nature and reevaluating our impact on her is center stage, supported by inclusion and collaboration from those on every side.