Dear, Nature, 

You are so noticeable, yet so forgotten. You stand out with beautiful trees and flowers yet are often neglected as a society whenever we stick our noses onto our digital screens consuming whatever flows into one ear and out another. Reading All Quiet On The Western Front provided the true realities underneath the facade of patriotic wars; like the true conditions of what life was like as a soldier in the trenches or on the battlefield during World War I. Quite so, it was not beautiful. However, when life gets miserable, sometimes you have to think positively about what is in front of you, which is you, Nature. You wrap your arms around us when times are hopeless and give us strength and support for what a beautiful life you have created; us. This leads me to my modern question–

“Why do we take Nature and the air we breathe in for granted? How can we appreciate the little things in life? How can we respond to people in power today trying to get rid of green space communities and nature reserves?”

Deforestation is a huge problem in modern society, it is the act of purposefully clearing greenspace and replacing it with factories that produce waste and large amounts of carbon dioxide in the air. Green space is good. According to the United Nations, increasing the number of green spaces can reduce short-lived climate pollutants that produce strong global warming effects. It is good for our physical and mental health, whether going on a cardio exercise by hiking or taking a stroll. Taking away green space is going to have a toll physically, and potentially mentally, on our health, something a majority of us take for granted until it becomes a serious, critical issue. As a community, we can advocate and protest for keeping nature preservatives instead of turning them into ruins, or become allies of people who support preserving green space. Second, get involved. Period. Looking for service hours as a teenager? Reach out to local community service clubs and help clean up beaches or parks– not only are you helping yourself, but you are helping others spend a safer and cleaner time at these locations. As an adult, it is great to support your community, too! It is never too late. 

The tendency to forget Nature is not by purpose, but is understandably not everybody’s first thing to worry about on their to-do list. Everybody is going through circumstances right now, but when the time is right, whether it be spending time outdoors, take a moment to realize the small things in life– the same things that make us happy, but also sad. Taking a step back from our phones is important, being dependent on our phones is unhealthy. Simple things like going out for a walk, exercising, or interacting with people are important. Start journaling or make a diary, collect small things you see around you, and scrap them into a notebook. One of my favorite hobbies is pressing flowers or collecting papers to scrap with in my journal– it helps me reflect on my day, regardless of whether indoors or outdoors. 

Lack of green space is a global issue that affects the world everywhere, even if we do not see it with our two eyes, but also apparent in our small communities. Bustling, big factories producing fast-production items are dominating each and every day, taking over land with flags like in Minesweeper. These lands that were once reserved for positive environmental impacts for wildlife, biodiversity, and intentions to improve air quality are getting replaced for the opposite reasons. Let’s see what YOU and I can do to bring back Nature’s blossoming spirit that enriches our lives that we once took for granted.