Sidebar:Discover Nature’s Balance

Not very long ago there were people living close to the Earth, honoring, celebrating and respecting life through prayer and beautiful ceremonies. These people understood nature’s many gifts. All their food, clothing, medicine, tools and materials for their homes came from their immediate surroundings. Understanding the natural world was critical for their survival. The Earth was sacred to them. Who were these people? Our ancestors! That’s right, all our ancestors knew how to live off the land… or perhaps, to live with the land would be more accurate. There was no air pollution, no water pollution, no litter, and there were no garbage dumps. They lived in balance with the land.

By contrast, in our high-tech fast-paced world today, it’s easy to see how we are gradually distancing ourselves from the natural world. Nature, for the most part, is viewed as merely a commodity to be used and used up anyway we see fit. And, most of our experiences with nature today come in the form of outdoor “recreation.” Many of us spend that time racing around the woods and waters on various machines doing Mach 3 with our hair on fire. Sadly, going on a nature walk or fishing on a quiet riverbank somewhere is considered boring to most people. Whatever form of outdoor activities you prefer, one thing’s for certain, you’re missing more than you realize. Nature is the one constant in all our lives and is perhaps our greatest teacher. Our ancestors instinctively knew this. Unfortunately, much of their knowledge has been lost forever. . Nature was created perfectly. Our job is to perceive it, not to try to control it. The natural world is amazing and very complex. We are merely a strand in this beautiful web of life. Our ancestors understood this delicate balance and went to great lengths not to upset it. Perhaps the foundation of their wisdom was that they didn’t consider themselves to be more important than nature. They were grateful just to be a part of it. The result of their knowledge was that they were self-sufficient. In other words, they could take care of themselves! Unfortunately today, most people want to be taken care of. We have much to learn from the relationship our ancestors had with the Earth. There’s an old saying: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Maybe we should be teaching people the skills to take care of themselves, instead of sending them a welfare check every month. (Hmm…interesting thought.)

Most of us punch a time clock, work fifty weeks a year and plan for our retirement…you know that time when were finally going to have some fun and live our lives. Sadly though, as hard as we work, most of us are still only one paycheck away from the poorhouse. We have become dependent on society. There is little or no self-sufficiency in our lives today. Ask a child where food and clothing comes from, and you’re likely to hear, from the Wal-Mart Super Center. Our society, it seems, wants to provide everything for us and we are soon heading toward a cash-less society where all our purchases are taken directly out of our bank accounts, with the convenient scan of a plastic card. It’s all pretty scary if you ask me.
Now don’t get me wrong; I’m not suggesting that we all run away and live in the woods happily ever after. That’s not realistic. It’s clear that technology is here to stay. However, I believe that we need to find a better balance in our lives. In a finite world, resources are not infinite. If we keep the best of “non-polluting sustainable technology” and incorporate some of the self-reliant skills of our ancestors, I believe we can lead fuller, healthier, and happier lives. As a result, perhaps we will become the true “stewards of the earth” that we were meant to be and lessen our impact on the environment with the positive choices we make. Through love, education and compassion, we can all make a difference on this planet and protect the Earth for future generations.

Richard is a former Head Instructor at Tom Browns’ famous Wilderness Survival School in New Jersey, and for the past ten years he has taught nature awareness and wilderness survival skills to thousand’s of people of all ages through his Earth School. Earth School offers classes to children, teenagers, and adults on nature awareness, tracking, wild edible and medicinal plants, wilderness survival skills and much more. In-school programs for grade levels K-12 are also available. Call Earth School at (866) 504-3199 for more information, or visit www.lovetheearth.com.

Discover Nature’s Balance
Here are a few suggestions that can save you money, free up your time to spend with your family and friends, and live a happier healthier life.
- Plant an organic garden next Spring
- Learn to identify and use wild edible and medicinal plants
- Learn to hunt and fish
- Barter goods and services with friends and neighbors
- Recycle everything
- Read a good book like Back To Basics by Readers Digest
- Learn about animals, birds and insects
- Walk through wet grass with your bare feet
- Cover yourself with mud and bask in the sun
- Dance naked in the rain
- Smile at a stranger for no reason at all

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