Nature and all its Glory

Hello fellow readers,

It’s October, which means fall is here! I love the fall season not just for all the

 holidays that come with it, but also the temperature change. As many people

 have dubbed it, “sweater weather!” With the change in season that means nature

 is changing, and so, today, I would like to talk about nature and all its glory.

Here in Southern California, for the last 10 years or so, it feels like summer almost

 all year round. It’s a tragedy for me because I absolutely love cold and rainy 

weather, but we hardly get that. Often times, I sit at home, trying to stay cool, and 

scroll through Pinterest, fawning over the beautiful autumn colors from other states.

 I hope that someday I would be able to visit those states and see the beautiful deep 

orange, burgundy, and brown hues in person. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to 

Colorado during the winter season where they get snow and cold weather, which is

 so mystical and dangerous all at once. The beautiful blanket of snow is not only 

calming, but tricky to drive through, especially during a snowstorm (been there, 

done that, let’s not go back, please).

While traveling in Europe, more specifically Scotland and Ireland, outside of the 

cities the landscape was gloriously green! Different shades of green and sometimes

 brown, but healthy. It made me jealous that I don’t really get to see this kind of 

nature in my hometown. Most of the time our trees are a dry green, almost brown, 

because of the heat and water ratio. But, my goodness, the lusciousness of Scotland

 and Ireland was wonderful. On the trip I would take time to simply take it all in. 

The wind, the sun, the sounds, and, of course, the scenery. I even got to travel to 

Glendalough in Ireland while it was raining, but it made the landscape that much 

more fantastical. I’ve always been this way - taking in the details of my surroundings

 - and when asked, I typically say that it’s because I had hoped to be a creative writer

 one day and would love to be able to describe this scenery, to transport my readers.

 In taking in my surroundings I also found a deep appreciation of nature.

Photo taken by my best friend

Location: Glendalough, Ireland 

 

When standing under trees or by running water, hearing birds chirping, I always 

admire how nature works. All the symbiotic relationships that are out there between

 animals, animals and plants, weather and plants, it’s incredible to pause and admire

 how the trees know when to shed and grow leaves, how birds fly south when winter 

is near, how bears and other animals know when to prepare for hibernation. 

Meanwhile, I need to check my phone to know what the temperature is for the week 

and plan accordingly. I cannot fathom living off of nature's clock and yet, so many 

creatures in our planet do. Then, I’m reminded that a lot of animals are suffering, 

suffering from our mistakes that we didn’t even know we were making for the longest

 time. Sea creatures cannot grow their shells properly because of the increase in CO₂.

 The eggs of birds are also thinning because of the potential pesticides the mama bird

 eats when picking at our food. I’m sure you’ve also heard about the bees that are 

dwindling in numbers.

 Location: lowlands of Scotland 

 

I’m not trying to be political, I’m simply observing. I’ve seen so many beautiful 

sceneries, and hope to see more in my lifetime, but after the research I did for an 

environmental biochemistry course I took in college, I am saddened at the gradual

 changes these sceneries will undergo. So, take advantage of the beautiful nature 

we have today. As the saying goes, “go out and smell the roses,” maybe pull up on 

the side of the road and gaze out into the cityscape, or look up at the sky every so 

often, enjoy what nature is giving us. Think about all the insects and creatures 

adapting and surviving alongside us, creating “the circle of life,” in the world they 

were given the same way we are. Just take a second to admire the world.

Live every day to the fullest.

Love, Damaris

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