Nature and Me

Making Memories and Experiencing Nature: The Story of Nature and Me

As people that have the ability to travel the world, we are constantly surrounded by the different types of nature. We are the lucky species that can easily travel to different places in the world and experience the wild touch of nature. We are also the people that can do the most to protect nature; and therefore, we need to make changes now so we can ensure that nature is still around in the future. From the forests that are full of beautiful trees and wild animals, to the beaches with turquoise water that look like paradises, to the great mountains and their mesmerizing views, nature is all around us and we need to explore and enjoy its full potential.

My first experience with nature was in the local forest that was next to our family house in Bulgaria. I used to play with my friends there and I have so many memories from the forest. We were all so amazed of how different it felt to be in the forest and the emotional healing effect that it had on us. Sometimes we would just sit in the forest and listen to the sound of the wind that was moving the tree branches and the leaves. That sound was so calming and regenerating.  I remember few times when I would go into the forest in a bad mood and then come out feeling great. A simple walk through the forest can instantly promote a sense of calmness and peace, while a simple breath of the scents of pine and spruce can make us feel as one with nature.

The forest was also where I had my first memories encountering wild animals. I remember seeing the squirrels playing on the ground, chasing each other all around us, and jumping from one tree to another. I also remember seeing a snail for the first time. The little animal was moving slowly on a plant leave and it had two antennae like ears.  In the forest I also saw various species of butterflies and birds. I remember listening to the sound of the wild birds, while looking at colorful butterflies that were flying all around me.

Every child and adult should experience the healing and energizing power of nature as I did when growing up. As part of that experience we need to learn how to love and protect the nature that is around us. Just recently we saw the damage of the wild fires in Australia and the amount of animal life that was lost as well as trees burned. We should do everything that we can to protect the nature and not cause such destruction to it.

My second big experience with nature was when my family took me to the beach and I got to step on the golden like sand, swim in the waters of the ocean, and enjoy the beautiful views of the beach grass around me. Unlike the forest, the beach has a whole different feel to it because of the powerful ocean waves. I remember sitting by the water and just watching the never-ending big waves crash while smelling the scent of the sea. I felt the wind in my hair, and the sand between my toes. Also, once I got a chance to go into the water with my water goggles and see the wild fish for the first time, I experience happiness that to this day it’s still in my memory. No matter how hard I tried to catch the fish, I could never get close to them. The ocean has healing powers of its own and just taking a walk at sundown by it, can change a person’s mood and perception in a matter of seconds. This first experience of the beach was very calming and one that I remember vividly.

As a kid my parents always though me to never throw trash and plastic on the beach and ocean as various species of birds and fish can eat that trash and die. There is a growing problem of trash and mainly plastic piling in the oceans. Therefore, we need to not only enjoy the ocean, but protect and keep it clean.

My third experience with nature was when I hiked and climb one of Bulgaria’s biggest mountains. Unlike the beach and forest, the mountain is where I energize the most. When I first stepped on the peak of that mountain and smelled the fresh scent of mountain air, I could truly feel the power of nature around me. I remember looking down and realizing just how little everything else looks in comparison to the mountain. The wind was calm and the only sound I could hear was of a stream that was close by. The mountain is a place where we can open and let go of any negative energy, and instead switch it with the much-wanted positive energy.  Just spending a day in the mountain, can help us heal emotionally and broaden our perspective of what truly matters.

Nature is all around us in its various shapes and forms. Nature, further, provides us with invaluable healing and calming properties. In order to experience its full potential, we need to visit and take a walk in the wild forests, sit on the beaches and swim in the big oceans, and hike and climb the great mountains. Only then we can immerse ourselves into nature and receive emotional benefits and improved mental clarity.  We need to learn to love and protect the nature around us, so it’s still around for the next generations to come. Some of the best memories I had were in the nature and I want my kids to have similar experiences that they can tell to their kids and future generations.