What Nature Can Teach Us About Life

I was given the inspiration for this post from a pin on Pinterest, which you can view by clicking here. It goes like this: Advice From A Tree

• Stand tall and proud
• Go out on a limb
• Remember your roots
• Drink plenty of water
• Be content with your natural beauty
• Enjoy the view

It was such a simple list, but I found myself reading it and re-reading for days. There is so much inspiration all around us that we take for granted. How many times a day do you pass a tree? And, how many times have you stopped to take advice from one? I never have, but I’m sure going to start.

Nature And Travel

One of my main focuses when traveling is hiking. I’ve learned much about myself from spending hours immersed in peaceful silence, but that’s come mainly from spending time in my own head. On my last hike, I decided to listen to nature had to say to me about travel and life. [pullquote]A chirping bird brought to mind the classic adage “the early bird gets the worm,” while the river seemed to tell me to always be moving forward[/pullquote] First of all, simply seeing an abundance of plant and animal life surviving without technology helped me to see that life does go on without modern luxuries. Watching a spider begin the detailed task of weaving its web – something extremely time consuming and technical – led me to appreciate the comfortable home that I lived in, which had been built by someone more skilled than I, and that wouldn’t get destroyed simply by a trekker not paying attention. When I was stung by a bee, something that seems to happen to me on a regular basis, I winced at the pain but then remembered the courage of the bee who sacrifices his life for the benefit of the hive. It’s an act in selflessness and action for the greater good. A chirping bird brought to mind the classic adage “the early bird gets the worm,” while the river seemed to tell me to always be moving forward. The insects showed me hard work pays off, and the sun shared what it had with everyone it could. And then I was back to the trees. Surrounded by them, I wanted to add to the list. This is what I came up with:

• Be self sufficient
• Help others
• Don’t be wasteful
• Patience is a virtue
• Add value to the world
• Don’t depend on others for happiness and growth

So next time you’re traveling and spending time in nature, remember to take the time to stop and listen. The environment has much to tell us about this journey called life.