There is something about nature. Is it fresh wind touching your chin, or looking at clear blue skies with your eyes, soothing sounds of rivers flowing through your ears, never-ending long old trees, or bucolic smell. Maybe it’s a combination of these things or maybe it is all those things.
On the one hand, you can go and get yourself lost in nature. Feeling depressed, get to the lakeside and hear the sound of running water going over stones. Want to get away from the madness of the world, go to a jungle and sit on a rock and hear the chirping sound of numberless birds. Had a fight, climb the hilltop; enjoy the breathtaking view from there; shout your lungs off and think how stupid you sound when words are echoed back to you; whereas on the other hand nature also offers a fun way to discover yourself, find things you are passionate about. It’s easy to spend hours on trekking, hiking, biking, and camping with your friends and family and discover things you had never imagined to see; if you are lucky you can even discover new exciting places. You can also try zip lining, paragliding and can feel yourself one step away from being dead/ lose your breath. Nature has a solution for everything.
I have been writing this article intermittently. Last weekend, I followed a trail in the middle of a jungle. I loved that trail. Walking on the dirt road, hit by sunrays every now and then due to long trees, looking at souvenirs people left over the logs, stones, taking a bite of your snacks in between. The more I walked the more I observed one more thing; the joy I felt looking at the fellow trekkers. Some were trekking with their dogs, some were walking with their cute little children, elderly couples walking holding their hands. Some kids were riding bicycles, some were using scooters and there were some who were enjoying their hoverboards. They were enjoying, interacting with each other, so different from nowadays at home where we are always looking at our mobile/laptop screens. They were free from all duties, tasks, obligation when they were in the lap of nature.
Gary Snyder summed me up perfectly in 10 words: “Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”