I Believe

I Believe…

I believe in the power of nature. It is very easy, especially as a high school senior, to get swept up in things that are not very important in the long run. Sometimes when I can feel myself getting a little too upset about my grades or what’s for dinner, I go on a walk or even just look outside.

When I am in nature, I am reminded of the fact that receiving a bad grade on one test will not ruin my life, and that I have to let go of things I don’t have any control over. On my walk, it is impossible for me not to marvel at the perfectly understated way everything is connected. The serenity of the untouched forest reminds me that there are more important things than myself at work. Although I am not sure if I believe in God, I think the closest thing I have to God is nature.

Nature also has a way of healing itself. It doesn’t happen instantly, and just like a scab on a child’s knee, takes time. When a tree falls down and dies, it doesn’t just sit there for eternity. It rots and decays and feels sorry for itself for a while. But just when the dead long couldn’t look more pathetic and useless, little blades of grass start poking out of it. Soon, flowers start growing and animals find shelter in it. After some time, the dead long isn’t just a dead log anymore, but part of the earth, and serving a purpose. Whenever I feel sad, I remind myself to be like a dead log, and that it’s ok to feel sorry for myself. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that just like the tree died so the flowers and plants could grow, something will grow from my experiences as well.

When I think about how many amazing things nature creates, I also have to think about the ability it has to take them away. Hurricanes and tornadoes can demolish countries in just days. Tsunamis can flood entire cities in just seconds. I think it is important to realize that we humans are inhabitants of this earth, and need to treat it with the same respect we would like to be treated. For some reason, we think we are entitled to the earth’s assets. We chop down the forests, pollute the air, kill the animals, but Mother Nature has a way of showing us who’s boss. We can drive our Hummers and SUV’s, but it’s only going to hurt us in the long run. I believe we are inhabitants of this earth, and we have the privilege of living with nature, which is something we shouldn’t take for granted.

I believe, when I am in nature, in a greater power. I believe there are more important things than what grade I get on a test or how my hair looks. How can I look at the perfect symmetry of a flower and not be amazed that it even exists? Being outside makes me feel like I’m four again, when everything was new and exciting and I felt so small compared to it. When I’m in nature, I believe in the absolute wonder that anything exists at all.