Don’t Be Shy, Touch Some Grass
Image Courtesy: @Carmellia.Dreamer
Hundreds and thousands of years ago, humans practically lived outside. They were among the grass and the trees all day, every day. It was customary for them. A little bit of dirt and insects never bothered them; all creatures lived in harmony. Fast forward to today, and we freak out when we see an ant on the floor. Our peaceful relationship with the outside world has been disturbed to the point of unrecognition. Nevertheless, humans are organisms from nature ourselves. We are meant to be outside. So, why are we so scared of it?
In the 21st century, we live highly sheltered lives. Our houses and cars are sealed off, and most of us work inside. It is possible to go weeks at a time without spending time outside, and there would be nothing abnormal about it. This is a drastic change to how our ancestors used to live, as most of them were outside all day. As a result, they had a very close relationship with nature. They saw other insects as acquaintances and were unafraid to get dirty. Today, because of our isolated lifestyles, we have come to fear any organisms that live in nature. When an insect or rodent enters our home, we have a mini-episode. When a bug lands on us outside, we go ballistic. Our perception of the outside world has shifted to an unnatural point. Why are we so scared of organisms we are meant to coexist with? Why are we so out of touch with the natural world around us?
Many of us do spend time outside, but we do it in shielded ways. When people sit in the grass, they almost always bring a blanket or towel to separate them from the ground. That is, if they dare to sit down among the bugs at all. We spend time “outside” in our screened-in patios and prefer relaxing in man-made parks rather than more untouched natural areas such as forests. We act as if nature is dangerous to touch and interact with. This has led to our widespread disconnection from the earth. Aside from the neglect of taking care of our world, this leads to many negative consequences relating to how we experience life.
It is hard to consider nature without considering the spiritual aspects of life. No matter what you believe, in every socially accepted theory, humans came from the cells of the earth. This connects us with nature. We are meant to be one with the natural world as we came from it. Because of our shielded lives, we often forget this. We are now unnaturally disconnected from our origins. This causes us to lose sight of our spirituality. When we feel disconnected from the earth and from having more spiritual thoughts, life can start to become superficial. Arguably, this is one reason why people have shifted to a more materialistic, “money-hungry” mindset. We forget that there are things bigger than ourselves, which is more important than being able to afford the best car. Our ancestors would be ashamed of our superficial lifestyles. It’s time to go back to our roots and live more like how they did.
Contrary to how we may feel, touching nature is nothing gross or dangerous. As soon as we get past our fearful mindset, we can interact with the outside world more meaningfully. Please, spend some time outside, be one with the bugs, and touch some grass. I promise it will benefit all of us.
Strike Out,
Ally Nelson
Boca Raton
Ally Nelson is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. Her passions include studying psychology, creating art and fashion, and drinking margaritas. You can reach her on Instagram @a.l.l.y_n or email @ nelsonalyssa.h@gmail.com.
