Finding Our Mother

I believe that every individual, starting at an early age, should build a relationship with nature and the wild outdoors. By having learned some of the laws and functions of the natural environment, I believe each boy and girl will grow up to be a bit more humble and considerate towards our natural resources. Every human should learn to be respectful and conscientious of the environment. I believe these qualities will ultimately make each person a finer citizen of planet Earth. In order to sustain all life which shares this world, man must get back in touch with Mother Nature and all she has to offer.

Since I was young, my father stressed the importance of salvaging everything possible. He deemed it selfish and irresponsible to discard resources that haven’t been used to its maximum. If I wasted something useful, I would be throwing away a part of nature because at some point everything comes from the Earth, no matter how miniscule. He hardly bought anything brand, rather he found ways to rebuild and recondition old items. My father also emphasized the importance of living in close proximity to the wild outdoors, both physically and mentally. He constantly encouraged me to get outdoors and discover nature’s wonders. Recognizing that I would develop a deep respect for Earth’s gifts, he introduced me to the beauty of nature. Luckily for me, my hometown was surrounded by untamed forest.

He and I fished and hunted those woods each year. For the most part, we filled our freezer and pantry with food and supplies multiple times a year. Through him I learned to take only what I need and only what I could use. He taught me to harvest from the forest only in moderation, so that we and others can continue to enjoy the resources without depleting them. Respecting my neighbor’s future needs became more important to me as I grew older. Naturally, the local ecosystem experienced frequent changes. But I specifically remember when sport hunters began to invade our forest during the hunting seasons. Wild game populations became so sparse that we had to buy meat from our neighbors. And even then, we ate our proteins sparingly. This directly impacted my view on the relationship between Man and the environment. Until that moment I regarded nature as a rugged and unstoppable force. But, the skinny winters I experienced revealed just how delicate Mother Nature can be, and how destructive humans are.

Perhaps we’ll stop ignoring the irreversible damage we are causing if we spend quality time in the outdoors at a young age. If we continue with our careless behaviors by exhausting Earth’s resources, future generations will surely suffer. I fear future generations may never know the beauty of Mother Nature. If mankind continues to operate at an unsustainable capacity, our future may be very bleak. I believe that becoming familiar with the environment at an early age can build a strong foundation which forces individuals to be mindful of what we are draining from the Earth, and the effects it has on everybody else.